India Rejects UN Investigator Offer in Air India Crash Probe, Citing ICAO Protocols

India declined an offer from a UN aviation investigator to assist in the Air India crash investigation that claimed 274 lives. In the past, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has provided investigators to support similar probes.;

By :  Palakshi
Update: 2025-06-27 08:21 GMT
India Rejects UN Investigator Offer in Air India Crash Probe, Citing ICAO Protocols
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India has declined an offer from the United Nations’ aviation agency to involve one of its investigators in the probe into the June 12 crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which killed 274 people—making it the deadliest aviation disaster globally in over a decade.

According to two senior sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had proposed assigning one of its investigators, already present in India, to assist in the probe as an observer. However, Indian authorities refused the offer. The move was first reported by Indian news outlet Times Now.

Unlike previous cases—such as the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and the 2020 crash of a Ukrainian jetliner—where ICAO joined investigations only after being formally invited, this time the agency volunteered assistance. The Indian refusal has raised eyebrows within international aviation circles, especially in light of criticism over delays and lack of transparency surrounding the ongoing investigation.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the investigation, has not commented on the matter. ICAO has also not issued a public statement so far.

The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry, in a brief statement on Thursday, said that flight recorder data had been downloaded roughly two weeks after the crash. However, safety experts have questioned the delay, noting that both black boxes—recovered on June 13 and June 16—contain critical data that should have been accessed and analyzed immediately.

Adding to concerns is the lack of clear communication about whether the flight recorders would be analyzed in India or sent abroad, especially since the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is assisting in the probe. So far, Indian officials have held only one press briefing on the crash and did not take questions from the media.

Under global aviation norms—specifically those outlined in ICAO’s Annex 13—decisions on where to analyze black box data should be made swiftly, particularly when early findings could help prevent similar accidents.

An Indian aviation ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity earlier this week, insisted that India is "following all ICAO protocols" and pointed out that key developments have been communicated to the media. Still, the lack of detailed updates and limited transparency have led to growing scrutiny both at home and abroad.

Preliminary investigation reports are typically released within 30 days of a crash, though deeper investigations can take much longer. Most aviation accidents are the result of a complex chain of events, and experts say thorough, transparent investigations are crucial to improving air safety.

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