A year on from the Air India disaster that claimed 189 lives, the unanswered questions are now a political headache for Whitehall. The crash, which saw a Boeing 737 plunge into the sea off Mumbai, remains shrouded in official silence. UK aviation experts, led by former Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) chief Sir David King, have penned an open letter to Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
They accuse the Indian authorities of stonewalling. The letter, seen by this column, demands a full independent inquiry under international protocols. 'The lack of transparency is alarming.
Families deserve closure. The industry needs lessons,' King told me over a pint in a Westminster pub. The letter has already garnered 47 signatures from senior UK-based investigators.
The crux of their frustration: India's refusal to release cockpit voice recorder data. Officials in New Delhi cite 'national security,' but Whitehall sources whisper that the real reason is political embarrassment. The Indian government, facing elections next year, is wary of air safety scandals.
But the silence has consequences. Air India's UK operations are under renewed scrutiny. Labour's shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, is calling for a parliamentary debate.
'We cannot let this go cold. The families have been left in the dark for too long,' she said this morning. Downing Street is playing it safe.
A Number 10 spokesperson said they are 'in discussions with Indian counterparts,' but refused to commit to a public inquiry. Meanwhile, families are planning a vigil outside the Indian High Commission on Tuesday. The political game here is delicate.
The UK needs India as a trade partner. But domestic pressure is mounting. The backbench revolt is simmering.
A dozen Tory MPs have tabled an early day motion demanding action. One senior backbencher told me: 'We can't be seen to be putting trade ahead of safety. It's a reputational risk.
' The clock is ticking. If Harper doesn't move soon, this will blow up into a full-blown crisis. Watch this space.
