New Delhi, March 9 – Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha on Monday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)'s investigation into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last June is progressing at a very good pace, and the report will be released "very soon".
The Air India Boeing 787 flight AI171, bound for London, crashed within seconds after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers on board.
"Regarding the AI171 crash that happened last June, the investigation is going at a very good pace, and all the resources that are required for AAIB (the primary agency investigating the accident) are being provided," Naidu said.
"And I would say that the report should be out within the completion of the year," Naidu added.
Responding to a supplementary question during the Question Hour in the Upper House, Naidu also stated that the Central government is doing its best to ensure flight operations to West Asia in order to bring back Indian citizens stranded due to the Iran war.
Regarding the situation in West Asia and the safety of flight operations, Naidu said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) immediately engaged with the airlines and issued circulars.
He added that DGCA officials have held multiple meetings with airlines to ensure that they operate flights only when they are sure that there is 100 per cent safety for planes flying to airports in West Asia.
Travel advisories have also been issued to passengers to avoid confusion, he said.
While noting that airlines have been thoroughly looking at slots for operating the services amid the West Asia crisis, Naidu added that around 90,000 people have been able to travel to India in the last week.
"We are seeing the situation might get better in the days ahead, so that more people can also travel through civil aviation," he said.
Apprising the Upper House of the planned developments for the civil aviation sector, Naidu added that 200 more airports are expected to be opened in the next 20 years.
"I believe, the country believes, and the Prime Minister believes, that when you want to see a developed country, civil aviation operations should be a priority sector. And it is with that vision, in the last 12 years, we have seen substantial growth," Naidu said.
Mentioning the growth in air traffic in the country, he added that every day, five lakh passengers are able to travel domestically, while around one to two lakh passengers travel internationally.
"Our plan for the future is that in the next five years, we want to have 50 more airports, and in the next 20 years, we want to have another 200 more airports. So our overall tally of airports reaches up to 350," Naidu said.
