In the aftermath of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad that claimed at least 260 lives, a five-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team, led by director Sanjay Kumar Singh, has been tasked with uncovering the reasons behind one of the deadliest aviation disasters India has seen in a decade. The team, which includes experienced investigators and air safety officers, aims to piece together the critical moments before the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner lost thrust and crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12.
The incident, which occurred when the aircraft took off at 08:08:39 UTC and sent out a distress call less than 30 seconds later, saw the plane crash into a medical college hostel, resulting in the death of 241 passengers and crew members on board and 19 people on the ground, leaving just one survivor. The preliminary report released by AAIB has confirmed the timeline and details leading to the mayday call as the aircraft encountered immediate technical difficulties.
Leading the Investigation
The AAIB’s director, Sanjay Kumar Singh, appointed as the investigator-in-charge for the crash, brings to the probe a wealth of experience, with 15 years in aircraft accident investigations and over 25 years in consulting and operational roles related to Air Force assets. Singh, 56, holds a mechanical engineering degree specialising in aeronautics and an MBA, and has overseen investigations into 15 accidents or serious incidents and reviewed at least 300 reported occurrences.
The Team Behind the Probe
Alongside Singh, Jasbir Singh Larhga, who has been associated with the AAIB for over a decade and has played significant roles in key probes like the 2020 Kozhikode Air India Express crash, is part of the team. Larhga’s career includes contributions at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Pawan Hans, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, with notable involvement in cases like the Jet Airways runway excursion in Goa in 2016 and the Air India Express incident in Mangalore in 2019. Known for his diligent work, Larhga served as the chief investigator in this crash probe.
The team also includes Vipin Venu Varakoth, an assistant director of air safety at the DGCA’s Mumbai office, who has over 15 years of experience with the aviation regulator, having previously worked as an air safety officer for a similar period. Another key member is Veeraragavan K, who is also posted as an assistant director of air safety at the DGCA in Mumbai and has nearly 13 years of experience in air safety roles, including a tenure as an analysis engineer at Tata Consultancy Services in Chennai.
Vaishnav Vijayakumar, a serving air safety officer at the DGCA, completes the five-member panel, having been involved in multiple aircraft accident investigations and serious incident probes, bringing crucial technical insights to the team.
The AAIB team’s collective experience and focus will be critical in identifying the chain of events that led to the fatal crash, aiming to provide clarity to the victims’ families and improve aviation safety standards in the country while assessing the technical failures that caused the mayday call and the subsequent crash of the Dreamliner in Ahmedabad.
