Kozhikode plane crash probe report likely to be completed by August: Centre

The final probe report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in the Air India Express accident at Kerala's Kozhikode airport last year that killed many people, is in progress and is likely to be completed by August 2021, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, General VK Singh, informed the Parliament on Thursday.

New Delhi:The final probe report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in the Air India Express accident at Kerala's Kozhikode airport last year that killed many people, is in progress and is likely to be completed by August 2021, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, General VK Singh, informed the Parliament on Thursday.

The Air India Express flight from Dubai, carrying 191 passengers onboard, skidded off the tabletop runway in rain and broke apart while landing at Kozhikode on August 7 last year. At least 18 people were killed in the accident, including two pilots.

Replying to an unstarred question regarding the status of the AAIB report on Kozhikode plane crash in August 2020, MoS Civil Aviation VK Singh informed the Lok Sabha that final compensation offers have been made to all the 165 injured passengers, out of which 73 passengers accepted the offer and have been paid a total amount of Rs 60.35 crore as the final settlement as of date.

"The airline is awaiting acceptance offers from 92 injured passengers and next of kin of 19 deceased passengers. 25 injured passengers and next of kin of 18 deceased passengers have engaged an UAE-based law firm to represent them directly before the reinsurers. 18 injured passengers in this category have engaged a US-based law firm to directly represent them before reinsurers," the Minister said in his reply to Waynad MP Rahul Gandhi's question.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that a team from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had visited the Kozhikode airport to review the operations of wide-bodied aircraft at the airport. "In its report, the team made eight observations, which were forwarded to the airport operator. As per airport operator, permanent action has been taken on some observations," the Ministry informed the Lok Sabha.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had on 13 August last year appointed a five-member team to probe the Kozhikode crash and submit the report within five months i.e. by January 13, 2021 but the Ministry of Civil Aviation granted a two-month extension to the bureau citing Covid-19 pandemic.

"Due to COVID-19 pandemic, there was a delay being experienced in the Test Reports of components and an extension of two months has been granted for submission of Draft Final Report of investigation into VT-AXH accident," said the Civil Aviation Ministry order, accessed by ETV Bharat in January.

According to AAIB order, Captain SS Chahar was appointed as Investigator-in-Charge to probe Calicut crash.

"The Investigator-in-Charge will complete its inquiry and submit the report to AAIB, India, preferably within five months from the date of issue of this order," the AAIB had said.

Notably, four days after the accident, Aviation Regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had temporarily barred wide-body aircraft from the Calicut airport.

Before the Kozhikode plane crash, Saudi Arabian airlines and Air India were operating wide-bodied aircraft at the Kozhikode airport.