Supreme Court Slams Air India Crash Report

The Supreme Court of India has criticized the preliminary report on the Air India crash of June 12, calling some of its findings "irresponsible." The court's remarks came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the non-governmental organization Safety Matters Foundation, led by Captain Amit Singh. The PIL seeks a new, independent, and swift investigation into the accident.

Photo | ANI

Key Allegations and Concerns

The Safety Matters Foundation's plea, argued by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, raises serious concerns about the initial investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The NGO alleges that the AAIB's preliminary report, released on July 12, unethically attributed the crash to pilot error, specifically claiming that "fuel cutoff switches" were moved from "run" to "cutoff." The PIL highlights a potential conflict of interest, noting that three members of the probe panel were from the aviation regulator itself.

Furthermore, the plea claims that the AAIB report deliberately withheld crucial information necessary for a transparent investigation. This includes the full output of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), complete transcripts with time stamps from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), and data from the Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR). The foundation argues that this information is essential for a thorough and unbiased understanding of the disaster.

Court's Response and Directives

In response to the PIL, the Supreme Court has issued notices to both the Centre and the Director General of Civil Aviation, demanding their response. While acknowledging the need for a final report, the court also raised a point about confidentiality, noting that some information might need to be protected to prevent its misuse by rival airlines. Despite this, the bench has specifically issued a notice to ensure the investigation is free, fair, independent, and expeditious.

The crash involved an Air India Boeing 787-8, operating flight AI171, which was on its way to London's Gatwick airport. The aircraft crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The tragic accident resulted in the deaths of 265 people, including 241 passengers and crew members.