Pilot Group Challenges AAIB's Summons to Captain's Nephew in Ahmedabad Crash Probe
The Federation of Indian Pilots has raised strong objections to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's recent actions. The AAIB summoned the nephew of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal for questioning. Captain Sabharwal was one of the pilots operating the Air India Boeing 787-8 that crashed in Ahmedabad in June 2025.
Legal Notice Calls Summons Unwarranted
The FIP served a legal notice to the AAIB through APJ-SLG Law Offices. The notice argues that Varun Anand, Captain Sabharwal's nephew, has no connection to the ill-fated flight. Anand is a pilot with Air India but does not operate Boeing 787 aircraft. He was not involved in the flight's planning, dispatch, operation, or maintenance.
The legal notice states the summoning appears based solely on familial relationship. This action contradicts aircraft accident investigation rules, according to the FIP. Those rules confine investigations to technical, safety-oriented fact-finding. They expressly prohibit attribution of blame or liability during the investigation phase.
Anand has agreed to appear before investigators via video conference despite the objections. The FIP calls this summoning "wholly unwarranted" and amounting to "harassment and distress."
Broader Concerns About Investigation Fairness
This legal challenge represents the latest development in months of criticism. The FIP and Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the late pilot's father, have questioned the AAIB's approach repeatedly. They filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the probe's fairness.
The pilot grouping alleges the AAIB is working with a preconceived notion. They claim investigators seem determined to blame the pilots rather than examine systemic, mechanical, or operational causes objectively.
"The summoning of the nephew of the deceased pilot reinforces the apprehension that such actions are not rooted in any lawful investigative necessity," the legal notice states.
Background of the Ahmedabad Crash Investigation
The Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 14, 2025. The AAIB released a preliminary report one month after the accident. That report indicated both engines lost fuel when fuel control switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position within seconds of each other.
Cockpit voice recorder data revealed one pilot asked why the other cut off the fuel. The other pilot responded that he did not perform that action. The report did not state that either pilot physically moved the switches. It used the term "transitioned" to describe the change of mode.
Despite this careful wording, many interpreted the preliminary report as implicitly pointing toward crew responsibility. Pilot suicide theories began circulating, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Previous Allegations Against AAIB Conduct
In September 2025, the FIP made serious allegations against AAIB officials. The group claimed a delegation visited Pushkar Raj Sabharwal's home under the pretext of offering condolences. During that visit, officials allegedly made damaging insinuations based on selective cockpit voice recorder interpretation.
They suggested Captain Sabharwal deliberately moved the engine fuel control switches. The FIP called this visit a "gross and calculated overreach" of the AAIB's mandate. They viewed it as an attempt to establish a pilot error narrative prematurely.
The pilot association wrote to the Ministry of Civil Aviation demanding a judicial probe. They argued that only an independent judicial investigation could salvage the credibility of India's accident investigation process.
Current Status and Broader Implications
The Supreme Court petition challenging the AAIB probe remains sub judice. The FIP's legal notice references this pending matter. It questions the integrity of the investigation's manner and approach.
This controversy highlights tensions between pilot organizations and aviation investigators in India. It raises important questions about accident investigation protocols and fairness. The outcome could influence how future aviation accidents are investigated in the country.
The AAIB maintains it has authority to call any witness relevant to the investigation under current rules. The agency continues its work examining all possible causes of the tragic Ahmedabad crash that claimed multiple lives.
