India’s aviation minister announced on Thursday that a formal investigation has been launched into the cause of a tragic Air India crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London.
The crash, which occurred in Ahmedabad, killed at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground.
One passenger is believed to have survived.
Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the probe, following international guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Rescue teams continued to search the crash site into the early hours of Friday, looking for clues and trying to recover the plane’s black box recorders, which are crucial for understanding what went wrong.
Air India reported that the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
Onboard were also two pilots and ten cabin crew members.
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has offered assistance, and experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board will also be involved in the investigation.
Boeing, the American manufacturer of the aircraft, said it is working closely with Air India and gathering more information.
The Indian government has also announced the formation of a high-level committee made up of experts from different fields to assess the incident and recommend ways to improve aviation safety and prevent future tragedies.
