What’s Next for Air India After the Tragic Plane Crash? Parliamentary Panel Seeks Answers

A recent Parliamentary panel meeting addressed the tragic Air India plane crash and the subsequent rise in airfares for Srinagar flights. With around 270 lives lost in the June 12 incident, members sought clarity on the investigation timeline for the black boxes. Additionally, concerns were raised about the spike in airfares following the Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting included high-ranking officials from various aviation bodies, aiming to discuss regulatory measures on public infrastructure. What will be the outcome of these discussions?
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What’s Next for Air India After the Tragic Plane Crash? Parliamentary Panel Seeks Answers

Parliamentary Panel Discusses Air India Crash and Rising Airfares


New Delhi: On Tuesday, a Parliamentary committee convened to engage with high-ranking officials from the civil aviation ministry, alongside representatives from airlines and airports. During the discussions, several members of Parliament brought up the recent Air India plane crash and inquired about the timeline for the investigation report, according to sources.


Concerns were also voiced regarding the unexpected spike in airfares for flights to Srinagar following the Pahalgam terror incident in April.


Additionally, some committee members called for an audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).


The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), led by senior Congress figure K C Venugopal, met with these officials and airline representatives.


Notable attendees included Air India’s CEO and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson, among other airline executives.


Several members of the panel referenced the Air India crash that occurred on June 12, with one member specifically asking ministry officials about the expected completion date for analyzing the aircraft's black boxes.


The tragic incident resulted in the loss of approximately 270 lives when the Air India flight, bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.


Committee members expressed alarm over the sudden increase in airfares for Srinagar flights following the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives on April 22.


The government imposed a ban as part of its response to the terror attack linked to Pakistan.


Officials from various organizations, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS), and BCAS, were present at the meeting.


The meeting's agenda focused on gathering oral evidence from representatives of the ministry, DGCA, AERA, AAI, AAICLAS, BCAS, and other relevant organizations, including airport operators and airlines, regarding the 'Levy and regulation of fees, tariffs, user charges, etc. on public infrastructure and other public utilities,' as noted on the Lok Sabha website.


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