The United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have formally offered their assistance to Indian authorities in the investigation of the Air India Flight AI171 crash. The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick (LGW) when it tragically crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday afternoon.
In a statement, the AAIB confirmed its participation in the probe, following international protocols.
“The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has formally offered its assistance to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India. In addition, the UK AAIB will have expert status in the Indian safety investigation. This is in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 because UK citizens were on board the aircraft,” read a statement issued by the AAIB.
The AAIB added, “We are deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian-led investigation. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic accident.”
The ill-fated flight was carrying at least 169 Indian nationals and 53 British citizens.
Following the crash, the British High Commission in India stated that it is working closely with local authorities to establish the facts and offer support to those affected. In London, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has urged concerned British nationals or their families to contact emergency helplines.
Authorities in Gujarat have also established an Emergency Centre to support the crisis. Air India has launched a dedicated passenger hotline for inquiries and support.
UK Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, posted on X:
“As part of the UK’s ongoing support in relation to today’s tragic incident, the AAIB will deploy a team to India to support the Indian Authorities in their investigation. I continue to receive regular updates on developments, and my thoughts remain with everyone involved.”
The AAIB investigates civil aviation accidents and serious incidents within the UK and its overseas territories. Its investigators specialize in disciplines including operations, engineering, data analysis, and human factors. Depending on the complexity of a case, teams are deployed to crash sites or investigation locations and may retrieve flight data recorders for further analysis.
The US FAA also issued a statement offering technical assistance in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the official US representative in such cases.
“The FAA is in contact with the NTSB regarding Air India flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), that was involved in an accident in India on Thursday, June 12. When an international incident occurs, that government leads the investigation. In the event assistance is requested, the NTSB is the official US representative and the FAA provides technical support. We stand ready to launch a team immediately in coordination with the NTSB,” the FAA said.
