AAIB Names Five-Member Panel Probing Ahmedabad Air India Crash That Killed Over 260

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has named the five-member panel tasked with investigating the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades. The probe team is led by Sanjay Kumar Singh, the bureau’s director, the agency confirmed late Friday along with a preliminary accident report.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed into a medical college hostel just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard, along with 19 people on the ground. The crash has left the nation in shock and prompted an urgent review of aviation safety protocols.

The aircraft departed at 08:08:39 UTC (13:38:39 IST). Within 30 seconds, at 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots issued a desperate “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” call, according to the AAIB’s preliminary findings.

Members of the Investigation Team

Sanjay Kumar Singh – Investigator-in-Charge
Currently the Director at AAIB, Singh has over 15 years of experience in aircraft accident investigations and aviation safety. He has overseen over 300 reported occurrences and led probes into 15 major incidents. Singh holds a mechanical engineering degree with a specialization in aeronautics, along with an MBA. His LinkedIn profile lists 25+ years of experience across advisory and operational roles tied to Air Force operations.

Jasbir Singh Larhga – Senior Investigator
A veteran of the AAIB and previously with the DGCA, Larhga has been involved in several high-profile probes, including the 2020 Kozhikode Air India Express crash. He has also investigated incidents like the Jet Airways runway excursion in Goa (2016) and the Air India Express taxiway incident at Mangalore Airport (2019). Described by peers as “efficient and diligent,” Larhga brings deep regulatory and investigative experience to the panel.

Vipin Venu Varakoth – Assistant Director, DGCA Mumbai
With over 15 years at the DGCA, Varakoth currently serves as Assistant Director of Air Safety in Mumbai. He previously held a similar post for several years and has long been involved in the regulator’s safety oversight functions.

Veeraragavan K – Assistant Director, DGCA Mumbai
A colleague of Varakoth, Veeraragavan has worked as Assistant Director of Air Safety for nearly four years and previously spent nine years as an Air Safety Officer in Delhi. His background includes a stint as an analysis engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Chennai.

Vaishnav Vijayakumar – Air Safety Officer, DGCA
Based at the DGCA, Vijayakumar has participated in multiple investigations involving aircraft accidents and serious incidents. He brings hands-on experience in air safety oversight and regulatory compliance to the probe.

What’s Next?

The investigation, currently in its early stages, is expected to examine engine failure, crew response, and regulatory oversight as potential factors behind the catastrophic crash. The final report may take months to complete but is expected to result in major safety and procedural reforms across India’s civil aviation sector.