The affidavit filed by Assistant Director K Ramachandran states that the AAIB has all the required expertise and manpower to probe in detail the incident, to prevent future accidents.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Thursday filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court, opposing a petition seeking directions to setup a Court of Inquiry to probe the Ghatkopar plane crash, in which six people died.
The affidavit filed by Assistant Director K Ramachandran states that the AAIB has all the required expertise and manpower to probe in detail the incident, to prevent future accidents. Further, it states that it has been set up by the Central Government, with a view to separate investigation and administration wings, considering the increased Indian Aviation Sector.
The affidavit is filed while opposing the petition filed by activist Yeshwanth Shenoy. The plea states that the tragedy could have been larger had the aircraft crashed just 50 meter away from the spot. Many more people could have died and this plea is being filed to ensure a larger tragedy doesn't strike Mumbai in the future.
Further, it says that the investigation is so complex that the local police are simply not equipped to investigate the same. Though the accident spot is in Mumbai, its roots are in the DGCA office in Delhi. In his complaint to the police, he has mentioned the involvement of officials of the DGCA, the AAI, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and several builders, and that unless this case is taken over by the CBI, nothing meaningful would ever come out of it.
He has prayed for directions to order a court of inquiry under Rules 5(1) (d) read with Rule 12 of Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017. The CBI should register an FIR and take over the criminal investigation of the Ghatkopar air crash and the investigation so carried out be monitored by this court.
However, the affidavit says that Court of Inquiry if required is set up immediately after major catastrophic accidents and is done rarely. Last time it was done was in the year 2000, to probe the Mangalore plane crash.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Plane Crash")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}