The Congress party has raised serious concerns over the central government’s delay in appointing a lead investigator for the Ahmedabad plane crash, nearly two weeks after the tragic incident. Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, criticized the inaction by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which has yet to initiate a formal inquiry. Calling the delay “inexplicable and inexcusable,” Ramesh warned that such lapses could erode public confidence in aviation safety and regulatory systems.

A fortnight after the catastrophic air crash in Ahmedabad it is being reported that that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has yet to appoint a lead investigator for the probe. This delay is inexplicable and inexcusable. pic.twitter.com/ZRGfae8xCI

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 26, 2025

Ramesh took to the social media platform X on Thursday to voice his concerns, quoting a media report that revealed the absence of a designated lead investigator. “A fortnight after the catastrophic air crash in Ahmedabad, it is being reported that the AAIB has yet to appoint a lead investigator for the probe,” he wrote. As of now, neither the AAIB nor the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a statement addressing the delay or offering a timeline for the investigation’s launch.

The incident occurred on June 12, when a London-bound Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft struck a residential medical hostel in the Meghaninagar area, resulting in the deaths of 270 individuals, including passengers, crew, and civilians on the ground. Only one person survived the crash. The scale of the tragedy has intensified calls from opposition parties and civil society groups for urgent action and transparency. Aviation experts have also stressed the importance of timely and thorough investigations to identify causes, improve safety standards, and prevent similar disasters in the future. With mounting public scrutiny, pressure is building on the authorities to act decisively and restore trust in India’s aviation oversight mechanisms.