India denies entry to UN aviation investigator in Air India crash probe

 

India has declined to allow a United Nations aviation investigator to participate in the ongoing probe into the Air India crash that claimed 260 lives in Ahmedabad on June 12. According to senior officials familiar with the matter, the rejection comes despite an offer from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to assist in the investigation.

The fatal crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and marked one of the deadliest aviation disasters globally in the last decade. In response, the ICAO made an unusual move by proactively offering one of its experts, currently stationed in India, to join the investigative efforts in an observer role.

However, Indian authorities reportedly refused the offer. The ICAO’s involvement in past high-profile investigations—such as the Malaysian Airlines flight in 2014 and the Ukrainian jetliner downed in 2020—only occurred after requests for support were made by respective governments. This time, India did not seek any external assistance, signaling its intention to independently manage the probe.

Sources revealed to Reuters that the offer from the ICAO was formally turned down by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the agency overseeing the investigation. The AAIB has not issued a public statement on the matter, and the ICAO has yet to respond to inquiries.

Critics have raised concerns about the speed and transparency of the investigation, particularly regarding delays in analyzing critical black box data. These concerns have intensified with India’s refusal to allow outside observers.

The Indian news outlet Times Now first reported the development on June 26, further fueling public and international scrutiny.

As the story continues to evolve, New India Abroad will be closely monitoring the developments. The refusal to involve the UN aviation body raises questions about investigative standards and cooperation in high-stakes international air disasters. New India Abroad remains committed to providing accurate and timely coverage on issues affecting the global Indian community.