New transport accident investigation authority: what changes for the sector

Key data

The transport sector in Spain is gaining a new regulatory body. The Council of Ministers approved on 10 March 2026 the start of the procedure to determine the main physical headquarters of the Independent Administrative Authority for the Technical Investigation of Railway, Maritime and Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents. Orden PJC/302/2026 publishes that agreement and formally initiates the process.

This body will centralise in a single entity the technical investigations of accidents across all three modes of transport, something that until now was managed separately. For companies in the sector, it means a single point of contact and a more homogeneous and transparent investigation framework.

What does this regulation establish?

Orden PJC/302/2026 publishes the Council of Ministers agreement that initiates the regulated administrative procedure to determine where the new authority will be physically located. This procedure may include the participation of autonomous communities and municipalities interested in hosting the headquarters.

The key elements established by the regulation are:

• Formal initiation of the procedure for determining the main physical headquarters of the authority.
• The authority is newly created and will centralise the technical investigations of accidents and incidents in the railway, maritime and civil aviation sectors.
• The process is prior to the final resolution on the location: at this stage the headquarters is not decided, the procedure is opened.
• Autonomous communities and municipalities that submit a candidacy may participate in the process.
• The decision will have implications in terms of public employment, institutional investment and operational capacity of the body.

The consolidation of this entity means, for the transport sector, greater transparency and rigour in the investigation of accidents, by bringing together under a single institutional umbrella what were previously separate investigations by mode of transport.

Economic and operational impact

Although the published regulation does not include specific economic figures, the creation of this authority has direct consequences on several levels:

• Public employment: The chosen headquarters will concentrate the jobs of the new body, with the corresponding local economic impact.
• Institutional investment: The establishment of the authority will require infrastructure, equipment and operational resources to be located at the chosen headquarters.
• Sector operability: Railway, maritime and civil aviation companies will have a single investigating body for all three modes of transport, which simplifies institutional communication in the event of an accident or incident.
• Transparency and investigation: Centralisation improves methodological consistency in accident investigation, with the potential to enhance operational safety across the sector.

For public administrations candidating to host the headquarters, the decision represents an opportunity to attract public investment and skilled employment.

Who is affected?

• Companies in the railway sector: Train operators, infrastructure managers and ancillary companies that may be involved in accident or incident investigations.
• Companies in the maritime sector: Shipping companies, port operators and maritime transport companies subject to investigation in the event of an accident.
• Civil aviation companies: Airlines, airport operators and aeronautical service companies affected by aircraft accident or incident investigations.
• Public administrations: Autonomous communities and municipalities that may submit a candidacy to host the headquarters of the new body.
• Executives and operational safety officers in all three transport sectors, who will need to liaise with the new body in the event of an accident or incident.

Practical example

A Spanish airline that suffers a serious technical incident during a domestic flight currently interacts with the Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil (CIAIAC). With the new authority in operation, that same incident — and any railway or maritime accident involving the same company if it operated in those modes — would be investigated by a single centralised body.

For the operational safety director of that airline, this means a single communication protocol, a single institutional point of contact and a homogeneous investigation methodology regardless of the mode of transport involved. The choice of headquarters will also determine the logistics of any inspection or documentation request that the body may carry out.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify whether your company operates in the affected sectors: Railway, maritime or civil aviation. If so, this body will be your point of contact for accident or incident investigations.
2. Monitor the headquarters selection procedure: The decision on the location may affect the operational logistics of your relationship with the body. Track the stages of the process.
3. Review internal accident and incident management protocols: The centralisation of the investigating body may require updating internal communication and reporting procedures.
4. If you are a public administration: Assess whether your autonomous community or municipality has an interest in submitting a candidacy to host the headquarters, given the impact on employment and institutional investment.
5. Keep operational safety documentation up to date: The new authority will apply homogeneous criteria across all three modes of transport. Ensure your documentation complies with the standards currently in force in your sector.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7420