In a major development, the Supreme Court of India has said that no one can blame the pilot-in-command of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that tragically crashed in Ahmedabad in June, killing 260 people. The court made this statement while hearing a petition filed by the pilot’s father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, seeking justice for his late son, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal.
The top court also sent notices to the Central Government, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), asking for their responses. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) had earlier filed a similar petition, demanding an independent investigation into the crash.
Supreme Court’s Emotional Message to Pilot’s Father
During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant expressed deep sympathy for the 91-year-old father who lost his son in the tragic crash.
- “This crash was extremely unfortunate,” Justice Kant said, “but you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed.”
- The judge assured him that no one in India believes the pilot was at fault.
- “There’s no suggestion in the report that your son did anything wrong,” Justice Kant added.
The court made it clear that the initial investigation report did not blame Captain Sabharwal for the incident. It only mentioned that one pilot had asked the other whether the fuel was cut off, and the other pilot had denied doing so.
Dispute Over Foreign Media Reports
During the hearing, the lawyer representing Captain Sabharwal’s father mentioned that The Wall Street Journal had published an article suggesting pilot error.
However, Justice Kant strongly dismissed this point, saying, “We are not concerned about foreign reports. If you think they are wrong, your remedy should be with a foreign court. It’s just unfair reporting.”
The lawyer added that the newspaper cited an Indian government source, which raised concern about the accuracy of the information. The Supreme Court noted this but emphasized that only verified official reports should be trusted.
What the Preliminary AAIB Report Revealed
According to the AAIB’s preliminary report, the fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after takeoff.
Here are the key points from the investigation so far:
- The fuel control switches were moved to the “cutoff” position within seconds of each other.
- The switches were turned back on around 10 seconds later, but by then both engines had already shut down.
- The plane lost power, leading to the deadly crash near Ahmedabad airport.
- The report also said that aviation medicine and psychology experts are now studying the case to understand the pilots’ state of mind during the event.
The AAIB has not ruled out technical issues or system errors as possible causes of the tragedy.
Demand for Independent Inquiry
Lawyer Gopal Shankaranarayan, representing the pilot’s father, told the court that the investigation should be independent and transparent.
He said that the current AAIB inquiry cannot be seen as neutral because the agency comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- “There are known problems with Boeing aircraft around the world,” he stated.
- “That’s why we need an independent committee to find out the real cause of the Dreamliner crash.”
He also pointed out that this case should be treated as a major accident, not just a small “incident,” to ensure full accountability and fair investigation.
Supreme Court to Revisit the Case in November
After listening to all sides, the Supreme Court decided to send formal notices to the Centre, DGCA, and AAIB. The court will review the matter again on November 10 along with another similar case.
This move gives hope to families of the victims and aviation experts who have been demanding justice and transparency since the crash occurred.
Air India Responds to Ongoing Probe
Campbell Wilson, the Managing Director and CEO of Air India, spoke about the tragedy during the Aviation India 2025 Summit in New Delhi on October 30.
He said that while the AAIB’s report did not find any fault in Air India’s operations, the airline continues to review and strengthen its safety systems.
- “Anything that happens in the aviation industry, whether with us or others, is a moment for reflection and learning,” Wilson said.
- He added that Air India will keep improving safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
In summary, the Supreme Court’s statement sends a strong message — the pilot was not at fault, and the real causes behind the Air India crash must be found through an honest, independent investigation. The case continues to be one of India’s most closely watched aviation stories, highlighting the need for truth and accountability in the aviation sector.
