News Desk – The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to respond to a petition demanding an independent probe into the Air India 171 crash, which killed 265 people. The court also sought a reply from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The move comes after the Bureau’s preliminary report suggested possible pilot error. The report mentioned a cockpit conversation where one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” and the other replied, “I didn’t.” This led to speculation that the crash was caused by the crew.
The NGO Safety Matters Foundation filed the petition, saying the report hid important facts and unfairly blamed the pilots. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO, said the report ignored serious technical problems like fuel-switch defects and electrical faults. He also pointed out that three members of the probe team were from DGCA, which created a “conflict of interest.”
The Supreme Court bench said the demand for a fair inquiry was understandable but warned that making all findings public could harm families. “These are very unfortunate and irresponsible kinds of statements,” Justice Surya Kant observed.
Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed seconds after take-off on June 12. The aircraft hit a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 229 passengers, 12 crew, and 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
The petitioners argue that a full, independent investigation is needed to ensure accountability and prevent future tragedies.
