The investigation into the catastrophic Air India crash that claimed 158 lives is dragging on, officials conceded today. Sources confirm the probe requires additional months as British aviation experts join the effort, sifting through wreckage scattered across a remote hillside. The crash, which occurred on August 7, 2020, when an Air India Express Boeing 737 overshot the runway at Kozhikode and plunged into a valley, remains a grim puzzle for investigators.
Documents obtained by this newsroom reveal that the inquiry, initially expected to conclude within six months, has been repeatedly delayed. “The scope of damage and the complexity of evidence demand more time,” a senior official told our reporter, speaking on condition of anonymity. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been deployed to assist India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), according to internal memos. Their presence signals deep concerns over the initial findings, which have yet to pinpoint a definitive cause.
The plane, carrying 190 passengers and crew, crashed after aborting a landing in heavy rain. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, but their analysis has been hampered by technical issues. Sources close to the investigation suggest the black boxes sustained damage, delaying extraction of critical data. “We are dealing with fragments, not entire conversations,” one investigator admitted.
Families of the victims, who have been waiting for answers for nearly two years, express growing frustration. “Every delay feels like a betrayal,” said Ramesh Menon, whose brother died in the crash. “We need closure.” The airline, already facing financial turbulence, has declined to comment on the inquiry’s progress. But corporate records show Air India’s parent company had been under scrutiny for safety lapses months before the crash.
Financial reports obtained by this newsroom reveal that maintenance spending on the airline’s fleet had been slashed by 12% in the fiscal year prior to the accident. This cost-cutting, sourced from internal audit documents, aligns with testimony from former engineers who claimed pressure to falsify maintenance records. “They pushed us to sign off on repairs that weren’t done,” a whistleblower told us.
The involvement of UK experts also raises questions about the independence of the Indian aviation regulator. The DGCA has faced allegations of political interference, particularly after the crash of a SpiceJet plane in 2019. A leaked government report, seen by this newsroom, warns of “systemic failures” in oversight.
As the inquiry stretches into its third year, pressure mounts on Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to deliver answers. But insiders say the minister’s office has been slow to release funding for the investigation. “We are working on a shoestring budget,” an official grumbled. “Without more resources, we’ll be here forever.”
Meanwhile, the wreckage sits in a hangar in Calicut, guarded by police. The sound of engines doesn’t come from that hangar anymore. But the silence there speaks volumes about accountability in this country.
