Court Clarifies Purpose of Air India Crash Investigation
The Supreme Court of India has stated that the ongoing investigation into the devastating Air India plane crash in June is intended to determine the cause of the tragedy and enhance aviation safety, not to assign blame to any individual. The clarification came during a hearing on Thursday, 13 November 2025, where the court considered petitions related to the disaster that claimed 260 lives.
Representing the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the preliminary investigation report, released a month after the accident, did not attribute fault to anyone. “There’s no blame attributed to anyone,” Mr Mehta told the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi. He emphasised that the investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was being conducted in strict accordance with international civil aviation conventions.
Pilot's Father and Pilots' Federation Challenge Probe
The petitions being heard were filed by 91-year-old Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of the flight's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, and the Federation of Indian Pilots. They alleged that the government's inquiry failed to meet the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao).
Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Mr Sabharwal stated his plea was a response to “nasty” media coverage suggesting his son was responsible. Speculation about pilot error arose after the preliminary report's July release, which contained cockpit voice recorder excerpts. These indicated both engine fuel control switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the non-profit Safety Matters Foundation, argued that a full court of inquiry was mandated by Indian rules for such serious disasters, not a bureau-led probe. He also raised concerns about the Boeing 787 model, citing “several systems failures” worldwide and warning that “everybody flying in these aircraft is at risk.”
Government Defends Probe and International Compliance
Mr Mehta dismissed these claims as “kite-flying meant to create panic” and urged the court to allow the “focused” investigation to proceed without interference. He stressed the importance of India's compliance with international protocols, noting that several foreign nationals were among the victims of Flight AI171, which was en route to London when it crashed.
The court acknowledged the gravity of the situation, with Justice Kant previously remarking to Mr Sabharwal that no government report had blamed his son. “This is an extremely unfortunate accident. But you should not carry the burden that your son is being blamed,” the judge had said during a hearing on 7 November.
Concerns about the probe's independence were also raised, as officials from the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, are part of the AAIB panel. The court has adjourned the matter after issuing a notice to the government, allowing time for a detailed response. The AAIB continues its inquiry with assistance from international bodies including Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
