The Supreme Court of India announced on Friday that the pilots of Air India Flight AI-171, which tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, resulting in the loss of over 250 lives, are not to blame for the incident. The court clarified that no official investigation report has implicated the pilots and that their families should not face any stigma regarding the accident.
The bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, responded to the concerns presented by Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who piloted the ill-fated flight. The court assured the family that it would formally acknowledge that the pilots bear no responsibility for the unfortunate incident.
“This was an immensely tragic event,” the bench remarked. “However, you must understand that your son is not to be blamed. There is no implication against the pilot whatsoever,” the justices reiterated, confirming that the preliminary report did not suggest any pilot error.
The Supreme Court made these declarations while considering a petition from Captain Sabharwal’s father and the Federation of Indian Pilots, advocating for a court-monitored probe into the crash. The petition contests the preliminary findings from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB), which initially hinted at possible “human error.”
The petitioners have contended that the investigation was flawed and biased, claiming that crucial evidence indicating a potential electrical or digital malfunction was ignored. They argued that the AAIB unfairly directed the narrative towards a “pilot error” angle without sufficiently addressing a technical fault in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s systems.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, challenged the integrity and transparency of the investigation. He pointed out that certain inquiries made to the family of the pilots were inappropriate, and that selective leaks to international media misrepresented public understanding.
The Supreme Court, however, remarked that reports from foreign media—such as those from the Wall Street Journal—carry no legal weight in India. The bench advised, “Respectfully, you should pursue a case in an American court regarding those publications. None of India’s 1.42 billion people believe the pilots should be held accountable.”
The justices reiterated that the probe's intent is not to assign blame but rather to prevent similar incidents in the future. They further informed the petitioners that if they wish to challenge the investigation's framework, they need to address the proper provisions under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules.
On June 12, Air India Flight AI-171 departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport with 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The aircraft tragically crashed mere minutes after takeoff, claiming the lives of 229 passengers, all crew, and 19 individuals on the ground.
The AAIB’s preliminary findings indicated that both engine fuel control switches shifted from RUN to CUTOFF shortly after takeoff, leading to a sudden loss of thrust. The cockpit voice recorder captured brief communication between the pilots, with one inquiring about the fuel cutoff's intent, and the other denying any such action.
Although the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a backup power source—was deployed automatically and one engine temporarily regained power, the aircraft was unable to maintain its altitude and crashed after sending a Mayday call.
The petitioners assert that the early deployment of the Ram Air Turbine indicates a significant electrical or systems failure rather than pilot error. They have also alluded to similar technical problems reported in Boeing 787 aircraft around the globe, urging for independent forensic scrutiny to eliminate potential design flaws.
The petition highlights that holding the deceased pilots—especially Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had over 15,600 flying hours and an impeccable record—accountable is unfair and unsubstantiated. They underscore the necessity that the inquiry must not tarnish the reputations of those who perished while serving passengers.
To ensure transparency, the petition calls for a court-supervised investigation led by a retired Supreme Court judge and a panel of aviation experts, warning that a hurried or biased investigation could endanger both justice and future aviation safety.
The case is set to be heard next week alongside a similar petition from the NGO Safety Matters Foundation, which is also advocating for an independent and impartial examination of the crash. The Supreme Court reiterated that aviation incident investigations must be conducted freely, fairly, and transparently, ensuring that victims’ families do not suffer further emotional anguish due to speculation or misinformation.
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