The Supreme Court is hearing an independent investigation into the Air India crash. The Centre and DGCA have been asked for a response. The father of the deceased pilot was assured that his son would not be held guilty.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is hearing a petition demanding an independent investigation into the Air India plane crash. During this, the father of the deceased pilot, Sumit Sabarwal, also approached the court. The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Centre and the DGCA in this matter. The top court assured the father of the deceased pilot that he should not bear the burden that his son is being blamed.
Response from the Centre and DGCA
In the Supreme Court, the Centre stated that the aircraft accident investigation is being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under international standards. The Centre also clarified that the preliminary report did not hold the Air India pilot responsible for the incident. The Ministry of Civil Aviation told the court that the investigation is being carried out in a completely impartial manner, and no individual will be held guilty without concrete evidence.
Details of the Accident
On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner traveling from Ahmedabad to London crashed 32 seconds after takeoff, colliding with a building. A total of 260 people lost their lives in this accident, except for one passenger. The scene of the accident was extremely horrific and sent a wave of grief across the entire nation.
Preliminary Investigation Report
The preliminary investigation report by AAIB revealed that the fuel supply to both engines ceased immediately after takeoff. According to the report, the fuel control switches moved to the cutoff position one after another. Although the switches were turned back on after approximately 10 seconds, the engines had already burned out by that time. Due to this technical malfunction, the aircraft could not be controlled, leading to the accident.
Pilot Sumit Sabharwal's Family's Reaction
Following the accident, the pilot's father, Pushkarraj Sabharwal, appealed to the Supreme Court for justice. He stated that his demand is for a fair and independent investigation into the accident. In the previous hearing, Justice Surya Kant told the father of the deceased pilot that the accident was extremely unfortunate and he should not bear the burden that his son is being blamed. The court assured that the pilot's reputation would be protected.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre and the DGCA to present information on each stage of the investigation to the court. The investigation is examining technical aspects, as well as aircraft maintenance, flight control systems, and crew training.
