Sanjay Kumar Singh (AI 171) Height, Age, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sanjay Kumar Singh

• Sanjay Kumar Singh began his professional journey in July 1991 as an Assistant Engineer at Jyoti Ltd. in Vadodara.

• In this role, he worked on manufacturing and commissioning vertical condenser pumps used in large infrastructure projects. He also handled customer service, technical coordination, and the erection of hydraulic and electrical systems across key industrial sectors.

• In July 1993, he briefly joined Tata Chemicals in Mithapur, Gujarat, as an Assistant Engineer. There, he was involved in preventive and breakdown maintenance of heavy machinery inside the chemical plant. He also supported central maintenance operations by forecasting and provisioning spare parts.

• In November 1993, he joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a Trainee Officer and began his aeronautical engineering specialisation at the prestigious Air Force Technical College in Bengaluru.

• During this 24-month training program, he studied aircraft systems, engineering design, project management, and IT modules, preparing for core roles in aircraft maintenance.

• From June 1995 to August 1997, he was posted as a Field Officer at the Adampur Air Base in Punjab. He was responsible for managing aircraft support systems and planning human resources and maintenance activities to ensure smooth flying operations.

• Between October 2000 and February 2003, he served as a Mid-Level Manager at a forward operational air base in Barmer, Rajasthan. He led a team of over 200 personnel responsible for maintaining aircraft and operating the tarmac.

• During this time, he also contributed to national security missions, participating in Operation Safed Sagar and Operation Parakram.

• From February 2003 to July 2006, Sanjay was posted in New Delhi as a Senior Project Executive at the Central Servicing and Development Organisation of the Indian Air Force.

• He managed technical publications for newly inducted aircraft and developed a statistical tool for analysing aircraft defect trends. He also conducted audits to assess the maintenance health of the organisation.

• From July 2006 to May 2009, he served as the Senior Maintenance Officer at a coastal airfield in Gujarat. There, he managed the maintenance of fighter aircraft and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs).

• He was responsible for ground operations planning, resource allocation, and ensuring high aircraft availability for mission readiness.

• Between May 2009 and May 2012, Sanjay Kumar Singh took charge as the Chief Examiner at the Promotion Examining Board in Chandigarh.

• In this position, he led a major transformation by converting traditional written exams into a fully online evaluation system. He also contributed to the organisation’s long-term vision by performing strategic reviews.

• During this time, he was also given a special assignment to manage the operations of a Canteen Stores Department (CSD) unit, which functioned like a mini-mall. He oversaw inventory, financial reporting, profit & loss statements, and customer service.

• From May 2012 to May 2014, he worked as the Senior Level Aircraft Facility Manager at a premier Air Force base in Rajasthan. He planned and controlled base operations, managed spares and manpower, and enforced safety and quality standards.

• He also led performance appraisals and handled HR responsibilities for more than 400 people under his command.

• From May 2014 to May 2019, he served as a Group Captain at the Directorate of Aerospace Safety in New Delhi, specifically handling the western aircraft and trainer fleet. He led investigations into numerous air crashes, including eight major Category-I aircraft accidents.

• He conducted an in-depth analysis of flight data recorders (FDR), cockpit voice recorders (CVR), and wreckage from crash sites. He developed safety proposals and preventive measures to reduce mishaps.

• He also trained personnel across different ranks in crash site forensics, human factors, and error management systems.

• From May 2019 to November 2023, Sanjay was the Commanding Officer of a Repair and Salvage Unit based in the Guwahati area. He led aircraft recovery operations in remote and challenging terrains following accidents.

• He supervised field dismantling, technical inspections, and transportation of damaged aircraft for further investigation. His leadership ensured quick response and operational readiness in times of emergency.

• Between September 2021 and November 2023, he simultaneously served as the Zonal Aerospace and Maintenance Safety and Inspection Officer in Bengaluru.

• In this role, he audited multiple Air Force bases for compliance with technical and safety standards. He conducted inspections, reviewed safety protocols, and mentored younger officers in aviation safety practices.

• In November 2023, after retiring from the Indian Air Force, Sanjay Kumar Singh was appointed as the Director of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

• As Director, he was responsible for leading the investigation of all civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents in India. He has overseen more than 15 major crash investigations and reviewed over 300 reports.

• He made headlines in July 2025 due to one of his most high-profile assignments, which was leading the investigation into the 2025 Air India-171 crash near Ahmedabad.

• He has introduced modern practices in the bureau, such as a mobile ‘Go Kit’ for on-site investigations and upgrading India’s Flight Recorder Laboratory for CVR/FDR decoding and playback.

• He has also represented India in international aviation safety forums, including those organised by ICAO, the Singapore Aviation Academy, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

• Throughout his career, Sanjay Kumar Singh received two Chief of Air Staff Commendations and led initiatives that improved operational safety, training quality, and investigation standards across both military and civil aviation sectors in India.