A British safety review has concluded that the victims of the Air India crash in June were not on the aircraft, raising serious questions about the chain of events that led to the disaster. The report, published by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), states that 98 of the 158 people reported killed were not on the passenger manifest. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, crashed into a residential area near the airport in Kozhikode, India, on June 7.
The AAIB found that the victims were residents on the ground, not passengers or crew. The crash, which occurred during a heavy monsoon downpour, has prompted a re-examination of landing protocols and runway safety. The report highlights that the crew did not abort the landing despite adverse conditions, a decision that the investigation attributes to inadequate training and pressure to maintain schedule.
The British review, requested by the Indian government, also found that the aircraft’s landing gear collapsed on impact, exacerbating the loss of life on the ground. The head of the AAIB, Dr. James Morrison, stated, “We don’t look at the sky any more.
The focus must shift to ground safety and community resilience.” The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry has accepted the findings and announced an immediate review of all airport approach paths and emergency response plans. The incident has strained relations between India and the UK, though both governments have stressed the importance of collaborative safety oversight.
