The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the helicopter crash near Joshimath in Uttarakhand ’s Chamoli district on Friday, October 30, in which all six people on board, including the pilot, were killed. The helicopter, operated by Trans Bharat Aviation, was flying from Badrinath to Dehradun when it crashed into a hillside.
The DGCA investigates other incidents and serious incidents, although the AAIB can take over any investigation. It is AAIB which decides the classification of an occurrence as an accident, serious incident or incident. The AAIB investigates serious incidents involving aircraft weighing more than 2,250 kg or turbojet-powered aeroplanes.
Detailed investigation and appointment of Investigator-in-Charge
They can summon and examine witnesses, record statements, obtain signed declarations, seize relevant documents and flight recorders, and enter and inspect locations connected with the investigation. The investigation will be conducted under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, which lay down the framework for investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents in India. Under Rule 7, wreckage cannot be moved or disturbed except when necessary to save lives or prevent further damage. Rule 10 gives investigators extensive powers to establish the circumstances surrounding an accident.
The primary objective of an AAIB investigation is to identify the circumstances and causes of an accident and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences. The rules clarify that an investigation is not intended to assign blame or determine liability. It is also separate from judicial or disciplinary proceedings. Preserving the crash site is crucial to an aircraft accident investigation. Once search-and-rescue operations are over, the AAIB becomes the custodian of the wreckage and flight recorders. For a full investigation, the DG appoints an Investigator-in-Charge (IIC), who leads the probe. Investigators examine the wreckage, flight recorder information, maintenance records, operational procedures and other material relevant to the accident.
