Supreme Court's Stance on Air India Crash Investigation
The Supreme Court of India has made a significant clarification regarding the ongoing probe into the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing Dreamliner, stating that the primary objective of the inquiry is to uncover the cause of the accident and recommend safety enhancements, not to assign blame or responsibility. This statement came during a hearing on Thursday, November 13, 2025, where the court was addressing a series of petitions related to the devastating incident.
Details from the Court Hearing
A bench presided by Justice Surya Kant and including Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the petitions. One of these was filed by the father of a deceased pilot, who lost his life in the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives. The petitioner contended that a preliminary inquiry report, which pointed towards pilot error, was an attempt to implicate the pilots unfairly.
Justice Bagchi remarked, "The supplemental Central government investigation may go into the question of responsibility," indicating that the initial focus of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) remains on establishing the facts. Representing the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed understanding for the father's sentiments and assured the court that no blame has been formally attributed to anyone. He referenced a press note issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to clarify this point after the interim report, which is mandated within one month as per international standards, led to some misconceptions.
Legal Arguments and Court's Directive
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the pilot's father, raised concerns that the established protocol for post-crash inquiries was not being followed. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the aviation safety NGO Safety Matters Foundation, highlighted that pilot associations had previously flagged risks associated with Boeing 787 planes and had even demanded the immediate grounding of all such flights.
In response to these arguments, Solicitor General Mehta cautioned that "Any interference by anyone can be counter-productive to a good, valid, and really focused investigation which is going on." Justice Kant also added a note of caution, observing that the proceedings "should not look like a fight between airlines."
Noting that the Centre had not yet filed a reply to a notice issued almost two months prior, the Supreme Court directed the government to file a counter-affidavit addressing all the petitions in the matter, moving the legal process forward.
