The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Union government on a plea demanding an independent probe into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. While hearing the matter, the Court voiced concern over the selective leaking of the preliminary inquiry report, which fueled media narratives attributing the disaster to pilot error.
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A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh observed that confidential data must not be disclosed prematurely, stressing the importance of avoiding speculation until the inquiry reaches a logical conclusion. The petition, filed by aviation safety NGO Safety Matters Foundation, argues that the official preliminary report wrongly suggested that fuel cutoff switches were mishandled by the cockpit crew. It contends that crucial records—including the Digital Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder transcripts, and fault message logs—have not been disclosed, undermining transparency.
Petition points to possible technical failures
The petition further points to possible technical failures such as electrical malfunctions and system anomalies, which it claims were downplayed in the report. It also raises conflict-of-interest concerns since the probe team includes officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the same body whose regulatory oversight is under scrutiny.
Seeking a court-monitored investigation by an expert panel, the petitioners argue that a flawed inquiry compromises public safety, violates fundamental rights, and risks eroding global confidence in India’s aviation safety framework.
The matter will be taken up after responses from the government and investigating agencies.