WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Foundation for Aviation Safety is calling for urgent reform of the international aircraft accident investigation system, citing outdated protocols, conflicts of interest, and systemic failures that endanger public trust and delay lifesaving safety improvements.
Outdated Standards in a Modern World
International accident investigations are governed by procedures set under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 standards — a framework developed in the 1950s. Despite decades of updates, the system has not kept pace with the complexity of modern aviation. Today’s aircraft involve advanced software, automation, and global supply chains, yet investigations remain bound by procedures designed for a simpler era.
The result is a process vulnerable to bias, political interference, and even criminal concealment. When manufacturing defects, software failures, or supply chain breakdowns are potential causes, investigative authorities often lack the technical depth to identify them. Many default to blaming pilots or isolated mechanical issues — a pattern reinforced by their dependence on “parties to the investigation,” including the very manufacturers whose systems may be at fault.
Built-In Conflicts of Interest
Under Annex 13, the “state of occurrence” leads the investigation. This arrangement can trap the process within local bureaucracies or political pressures. Even more troubling, manufacturers’ technical experts — while ostensibly assisting investigators — may face intense pressure to deflect corporate culpability.
This conflict of interest has produced a consistent and dangerous trend: prematurely blaming pilots before all evidence is examined. The Air India Flight 171 disaster illustrates this systemic flaw. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released an incomplete and misleading preliminary report, omitting critical data such as:
- The full cockpit voice recorder transcript;
- The real-time fault messages transmitted via ACARS and Airplane Health Management (AHM) systems; and
- The specific alerts and failures visible on the flight deck displays.
Without including the complete factual audio recording, the system fault messages, and flight deck instrument warnings, such omissions confuse the real sequence of electronic and systems failures that led to the tragedy.
The Air India investigation is not an isolated case. The two Boeing 737 MAX crash investigations exposed similar issues: not including data, obstruction of independent analysis, and violations of international standards. The Foundation for Aviation Safety has provided evidence of electrical system defects on both the MAX airplanes to U.S. aviation authorities.
Delayed Justice, Delayed Safety
Investigations are meant to prevent future accidents, yet many take years to complete. This delay not only dulls public outrage but also postpones critical safety reforms. In an era of instant communication and advanced analytics, it is inexcusable that investigations should drag on for years. Modern technology enables rapid data analysis and remote collaboration; these tools must be used to deliver timely, transparent findings.
Ending the Culture of Withholding Information
Investigative agencies like the NTSB often tell the public, “Don’t speculate — let the investigation run its course.” But speculation is not the enemy; secrecy is. Global aviation experts, engineers, and analysts can offer valuable perspectives when factual information is shared openly. Restricting access to data only fuels distrust and suppresses collective problem-solving. Transparency and open collaboration are essential to restoring public confidence.
A Call to Action
The goal is simple: replace a system that too often protects institutions with one that protects passengers and flight crews. The current model too often “puts the fox in the henhouse.” It allows those with the most to lose to control the flow of information, shape public narratives, and delay accountability. Reform is not just overdue — it is essential to preserving the integrity of global aviation.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety is prepared to take a leading role in shaping and developing this new process, and we respectfully invite you to join us in this effort.
Contacts
The Foundation for Aviation Safety
Media Inquiries: [email protected]
Information Requests: [email protected]
