Air Marshal(retired) B. N. Gokhale, and a former vice-chief of IAF, will head the Court of Inquiry into the Mangalore air crash. The enquiry has been set up by the government today.<br/><br/>Making the announcement nearly two weeks after the crash in which 158 people were killed, an official spokesperson said that the committee has been asked to complete its investigation and submit the report by 31st August.<br/><br/>The Gokhale inquiry would investigate all aspects of the crash of the Air India. Earlier, Innagurating the first aviation security meet in New Delhi, the Civil Aviation Minister Mr.Praful Patel said that government proposes to delegate more powers to the aviation regulator on air safety.<br/><br/>This, he said, is based on the recommendations of a new panel set up a week after the Mangalore air crash. Our correspondent reports that the first meeting saw some special invitees in attendance including officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization , the US Federal Aviation Authority, and aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.<br/><br/>The meeting came against the backdrop of strict directives to all carriers from the aviation regulator, asking pilots to refrain from forced soft landings or leaving the cockpit inadequately manned when an aircraft is airborne.
News On AIR | June 3, 2010 8:49 PM
Gokhale to head Mangalore air crash Inquiry