New Delhi, India — India has declined a request from the United Nations’ aviation body to allow one of its investigators to observe the ongoing probe into the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had made a rare offer to assist India by assigning one of its officials as an observer in the investigation led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). However, Indian authorities reportedly turned down the request, citing sovereignty over the national investigation process.
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The move has drawn attention, especially as some safety experts have raised concerns over the pace and transparency of the probe — including a delayed analysis of the aircraft’s black box data.
Deadliest Crash in a Decade
The incident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which crashed while attempting to land in Ahmedabad, marks the deadliest commercial aviation disaster globally in over ten years. The crash has prompted international scrutiny and calls for a more transparent inquiry.
Investigation Under Spotlight
India’s civil aviation ministry confirmed that flight recorder data was retrieved and downloaded nearly two weeks after the crash, a timeline that has sparked criticism. The combined cockpit voice and flight data recorder was recovered on June 13, and a second unit on June 16, but little official information has been released since.
The Indian government held only one press conference following the disaster, without taking questions, further fueling concerns about transparency. Under Annex 13 — the international standard governing air crash investigations — flight recorder data should be analyzed promptly to help prevent future tragedies.
International Tensions and Precedents
While the ICAO does not typically involve itself in accident investigations unless requested, it has previously deployed personnel in exceptional cases, such as the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and the 2020 shooting of a Ukrainian jetliner in Iran.
In this case, ICAO independently offered assistance and requested observer status for a representative already present in India — a request that was declined.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States is also involved in the probe, as per international protocol, given the U.S. manufacturing origin of the Boeing aircraft. However, it remains unclear whether India will analyze the recorders domestically or send them abroad.
India Defends Its Position
An unnamed Indian aviation official said earlier this week that the country is “fully complying with ICAO protocols”, and that updates have been shared through the media. The AAIB has yet to issue a preliminary report, which is typically released within 30 days of a crash under global norms.
Growing Pressure for Transparency
With questions continuing to mount over India’s handling of the investigation, the denial of a UN observer may further intensify scrutiny from international aviation watchdogs, safety experts, and families of the victims.
As global aviation agencies await more clarity, calls are growing louder for India to provide frequent, transparent updates and prioritize international collaboration to ensure a thorough and credible investigation into one of aviation’s most devastating modern disasters.
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