The Government has submitted a bill to Parliament proposing the creation of a specialised agency to investigate civil aviation accidents and serious incidents in the Maldives.

The bill was introduced to Parliament by the Member of Parliament for Hulhumalé Central Constituency, Abdulla Shazeem, on behalf of the Government. It seeks to establish a legal framework that aligns with international aviation standards and enhances the safety and security of the country’s civil aviation sector.

A key component of the proposed legislation is the formation of an independent agency mandated to investigate aviation accidents and major incidents. The agency would be responsible for identifying contributing factors to such events and implementing a national programme to promote safer air traffic operations.

Under the proposed structure, the agency would be led by a chief executive officer and three commissioners tasked with overseeing investigations and safety improvement measures.

The establishment of this independent body is expected to strengthen aviation safety oversight in the Maldives and ensure compliance with international norms by separating investigative responsibilities from regulatory functions.

Earlier this year, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen stated that the Government was planning to create a specialised entity to focus solely on aviation safety investigations. He noted that this function would be separated from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to allow for greater independence and transparency in handling aviation-related incidents.