Founded in 1962, under its former name, Bureau Enquetes-Accidents, the BEA conducts its investigations following protocols defined by the ICAO. As of November, 2001, the agency was reformed into the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'Aviation Civile, which retains the abbreviation BEA.
Agency oversight is provided by the Inspector General for civil aviation and the French minister for responsible for civil aviation.