India Rejects UN Investigator in Air India Crash Probe

India will not allow the UN investigator to be involved in the investigation of the crashed Air India jet. According to sources, the Indian government has taken this decision after some UN security experts criticized the delay in analyzing important black box data.

Earlier this week, the UN aviation agency took the unusual step of offering one of its investigators to India to provide assistance after 260 people died in the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad.

Earlier, the International Civil Aviation Organization has deployed investigators to help in some investigations, such as the downing of the Malaysian plane in 2014 and the Ukrainian jetliner in 2020, but assistance was then sought from the agency.

Sources said the ICAO had asked for observer status to the investigator present in India, but Indian officials rejected the offer. The news was first reported by Indian news channel Times Now on Thursday.

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the investigation into the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade, did not respond to a request for comment on the subject. ICAO was not immediately available for comment. India's Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday that investigators downloaded flight recorder data nearly two weeks after the crash.

Earlier, security experts had questioned the lack of information about the investigation, including the status of the combined black box unit recovered on June 13 and the second set found on June 16. Questions were also raised over whether the recorders would be read in India or the US, as the National Transportation Safety Board is participating in the investigation. The Indian government held only one press conference on the incident, and no questions were asked.

Under international rules, known throughout the industry by their legal name “Annex 13,” the decision on where to read flight recorders must be made immediately, so that the evidence obtained can avert future tragedies.

Earlier this week, an Indian aviation ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the department was “following all ICAO protocols.” The official said media representatives have been given updates on critical incidents. Most air accidents are caused by multiple factors, and a preliminary report is expected about 30 days after the crash.