On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Supreme Court of India voiced strong concerns over the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report concerning the devastating Air India crash that occurred on June 12. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh highlighted parts of the report that suggested pilot error were ‘irresponsible.’ Consequently, the apex court has sought responses from the central government and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) advocating for a fair, independent, and swift investigation.
The preliminary report, released by the AAIB on July 12, came under scrutiny. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO ‘Safety Matters Foundation,’ argued that the composition of the probe panel raised conflict of interest issues, as three of its members were from the aviation regulator itself. The NGO also pressed for the release of crucial data from the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, along with Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR) data, to ensure clarity on the accident’s true cause.
While emphasizing the importance of a conclusive final report, the Bench acknowledged concerns regarding confidentiality, privacy, and dignity surrounding such information. It also cautioned against the potential misuse of specific data by rival airlines. However, the court’s immediate focus remains on ensuring a free, fair, independent, and rapid investigation into the tragic incident.
The PIL, filed by Captain Amit Singh (FRAeS) on behalf of ‘Safety Matters Foundation,’ contends that the current official investigation compromises citizens’ fundamental rights to life, equality, and access to truthful information. The petition explicitly points out that the AAIB’s preliminary findings attributed the crash to ‘fuel cutoff switches’ being moved from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff,’ implicitly assigning blame to the pilots. The NGO asserts that without the complete flight data, CVR transcripts with time stamps, and EAFR data, a transparent and objective understanding of the disaster is impossible.
The June 12 disaster involved Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick airport. The plane tragically crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of 265 lives. Among the deceased were 241 passengers and crew members, including 169 Indian nationals, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Twelve crew members also perished. The sole survivor of the crash was Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national.
