Aviation ministry directs DGCA to investigate Mumbai plane crash

New Delhi | Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been directed to conduct an investigation into the Mumbai plane crash incident.

“Saddened to hear the news about the aircraft crash in Mumbai. I have directed DGCA to conduct an investigation into the plane crash at the earliest. I’m in constant touch with on ground developments,” tweeted Prabhu while expressing grief over the accident.

Saddened to hear the news about the aircraft crash in Mumbai.
Have directed DGCA to conduct an investigation into the plane crash at the earliest. I’m in constant touch with on ground developments.

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) June 28, 2018

In the early reports, it was been stated that aircraft belonged to the Uttar Pradesh government. However, Uttar Pradesh Civil Aviation Minister Nand Gopal Gupta told media that the Uttar Pradesh government sold the aircraft to a private aviation company in 2014 and they were responsible for its maintenance. “The VT-UPZ was Uttar Pradesh government aircraft till 2014 and was sold to UY Aviation Pvt Ltd, Mumbai in 2014. It is currently neither owned nor operated by the state government. The incident has nothing to do with Uttar Pradesh government,” Gupta said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also visited the accident site in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar. “It is a worrying incident. What were the reasons behind the crash and who is responsible for it needs to be found out,” said Fadnavis while speaking to media.

Earlier on Thursday, a chartered aircraft named VT-UPZ crashed near an under construction building when it was about land at the airport. DGCA reported that two pilots, two aircraft maintenance engineers, and one pedestrian lost their lives in the crash.