DGCA to no longer probe accidents

Mumbai: Finally, India will have an
independent process to investigate air
accidents and serious incidents with
the Civil Aviation Ministry forming a
Committee of Investigations in January
next year. The formation of an independent
body would, among other things,
mean the DGCA would also come
under the scanner during probe for its
policies and decisions that may have
played a part in an air crash or incident.
'The Committee will be headed by a
director and four other officers. With a
pool of independent experts from the
aviation industry, the Committee
would have 15-20 members," said civil aviation secretary Dr Nasim Zaidi.
Currently, DGCA officials conduct
probe into most of the accidents. "The
same authority cannot be the
prosecutor, investigator and the
judge," said Zaidi, referring to the need to keep the DGCA away from probe
into accidents.
In case of accidents involving major
loss of life, like the Mangalore aircrash,
an independent Court of Inquiry was
formed for the probe. "If a Court of Inquiry is needed to be formed, the
committee of investigations will co-
ordinate in the matter," said Zaidi. The
ministry's approval for the formation
of the Committee is pending.
Meanwhile, DGCA officials will continue to investigate incidents that are not
serious in nature.