Statens havarikommisjon for transport | |
Agency overview | |
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Formed | 1 January 1989 | (28 years ago)
Preceding agencies |
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Type | Government agency |
Jurisdiction | Government of Norway |
Headquarters |
Kjeller, Skedsmo, Norway 59°58′04″N 11°02′10″E / 59.96772°N 11.03623°E |
Parent department | Ministry of Transport and Communications |
Website | aibn.no |
The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN; Norwegian: Statens havarikommisjon for transport, SHT) is a government agency which is responsible for investigating transport-related accidents within Norway. Specifically, it investigates aviation accidents and incidents, rail accidents, maritime accidents and select traffic accidents. All investigations aim to find underlying causes and to improve safety; criminal investigation is not part of AIBN's mandate. Subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the agency is located on the premises of Kjeller Airport in Skedsmo.
Traditionally marine accidents were investigated Institute of Maritime Enquiry, which mixed safety investigation, criminal and civil liability into a combined investigation. Aviation accidents and major rail accidents were investigated by ad hoc commissions. The Accident Investigation Board for Civil Aviation was established as a permanent organization on 1 January 1989, originally based at Oslo Airport, Fornebu. From 2002 it also took over investigating rail accidents, road accidents were included in 2005 and finally marine accidents from 2008.
Traditionally marine accident investigation was carried out by the Institute of Maritime Enquiry (Sjøforklaringsinstituttet) and the Permanent Investigation Board for Special Accidents in the Fisheries Fleet. This system centered around mandatory inquiries carried out by a district court. In exceptional cases the Norwegian government had the jurisdiction to appoint an ad hoc investigation board.
At the time of Norway's first major civil aviation accident, the Havørn Accident on 16 June 1936, there was not particular routine for investigating aviation accidents. An ad hoc commission was established at the scene to investigate it, consisting of Chief of Police Alf Reksten, Sheriff Kaare Bredvik, the Norwegian Air Lines' technical director Bernt Balchen, Captain Eckhoff of the aviation authorities, and Gjermundson from the insurance company.