India is considering granting observer status to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the investigation into the crash of Air India flight AI-171, highly placed sources told businessline.
On its part, ICAO has proposed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to be granted an observer status in the probe to maintain best global practices.
“We are considering their proposal,” sources said, adding that observer status can only be granted if other parties involved in the probe do not have any objection.
“The crash investigation is being conducted under ICAO’s guidelines.”
Crash investigation
According to sources, ICAO has never before participated in any air crash investigation held in India.
“The status, if granted, will be unprecedented,” sources said.
“The probe is led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and representatives from the UK regulator, among others, are also a part of the investigation.”
The AAIB is the designated authority for such investigations.
Besides, Boeing, GE, and others are assisting in the probe, sources said.
Notably, ICAO has previously sent investigators for major international incidents that occurred mainly in conflict zones, such as MH17 in 2014.
Data Analysis
On Thursday, MoCA said that investigation into the tragic air crash has started to analyse the data recovered from the aircraft’s black boxes.
The analysis of the data, MoCA said will help to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the accident and identify contributing factors to enhance aviation safety and prevent future occurrences.
In a status report on recovery and examination of data from black boxes, MoCA said the analysis of cockpit voice recorders (CVR) and flight data recorders (FDR) data is underway.
As per MoCA, following the accident, the AAIB initiated an investigation and constituted a multidisciplinary team on June 13, 2025, in line with prescribed norms.
The team, constituted as per international protocol is led by DG AAIB GVG Yugandhar, and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from NTSB which is government investigative agency from the state of manufacture and design, (USA), as required for such investigations.