Ahmedabad Air India crash: Sabotage angle is also being probed, says minister

The investigation team probing the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 will also look into the potential sabotage angle, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said.

 

The catastrophic crash that killed at least 270 people is being probed by a multi-disciplinary team, headed by the director general of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

 

"It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investigation into it... It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage,” the minister said at an NDTV event in Pune.

 

Mohal said the black boxes recovered from the crash site are in the custody of the AAIB and will not be sent to any foreign country for thorough assessment.

 

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the rooftop of a building on June 13 while the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was found in the debris on June 16.

 

The investigation team led by AAIB DG G.V.G. Yugandhar includes an aviation medicine specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from the US government's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

 

Meanwhile, the Centre has extended the armed security cover to Yugandhar following a threat perception report prepared by intelligence agencies.

 

Three to four armed commandos will accompany the AAIB DG during his movements in Delhi and other parts of the country.

 

Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft enroute to London Gatwick crashed into a medical hostel complex soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing over 270 people, including 241 people who were onboard the plane.

India