Parliamentary panel to review aviation safety on July 9 amid Air India crash probe

A parliamentary panel in India is set to review civil aviation safety on July 9, following growing concerns after a fatal Air India crash in June. The review will involve top officials from the aviation sector, including representatives from Air India, IndiGo, airport authorities, and air traffic control bodies.

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The review comes in the wake of a catastrophic crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 that killed 260 people—241 passengers and 19 crew—just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12. The incident marks the deadliest aviation accident globally in over a decade. Investigations led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, are ongoing. Black box data from the flight has been retrieved, but the cause remains unknown.

Although the official agenda does not explicitly reference the crash, sources within the panel have indicated it will be a key focus of the discussions. Lawmakers are expected to seek answers regarding safety compliance and operational lapses.

Air India has recently come under heightened scrutiny from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for multiple violations. These include serious breaches in pilot duty scheduling and allowing Airbus aircraft to operate despite overdue safety checks on emergency escape slides.

The upcoming review underscores mounting pressure on the aviation industry to address systemic safety concerns and improve oversight in one of the world’s fastest-growing air travel markets.