Kozhikode plane crash report delayed

A five-member probe team was appointed in August last year with a deadline to submit its report in January 2021

New Delhi: The final probe report which was to be submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) appointed five-member team in the Air India Express accident at Kerala's Kozhikode airport in January will be delayed by two months, a Civil Aviation Ministry order stated.

"Due to COVID pandemic, there is 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 the investigation into VT-AXH accident," said the Civil Aviation Ministry order, accessed by ETV Bharat.

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.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on had in August last year appointed a five-member team to probe the Kozhikode crash and submit the report within five months.

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

READ:Slippery runway, tailwind likely led to Kozhikode crash: Experts

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

As per the order, headquarters of the investigation will be at New Delhi and the investigator-in-charge may take the assistance of the other experts or agencies whenever required.

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.