Parliamentary Panel to Discuss Air India Plane Crash and Civil Aviation Safety Today

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is scheduled to meet today in Parliament's annexe to discuss the 'overall review of safety in the Civil Aviation sector'.

The meeting follows the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 260 lives. The panel will question the Civil Aviation Ministry about the crash and air safety issues, including the ongoing investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Sanjay Jha, a Member of Parliament from Janata Dal-United (JD-U), chairs the panel. The Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation is expected to attend the meeting.

The AAIB has submitted a preliminary report on the crash to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and relevant authorities. The report is based on initial findings of the investigation into the tragic incident.

The crash on 12 June involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India flight AI171. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 perished, with a total death toll of 260, including ground casualties.

Another parliamentary committee, the Public Accounts Committee, inquired about the investigation report timeline and analysis of the aircraft's black boxes. Discussions on tariffs, flight fares, and safety aspects were held during the meeting.

Former civil aviation minister Praful Patel highlighted the need for more skilled staff at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) due to a shortage of top-level personnel.