The Supreme Court on Thursday clarified that the ongoing inquiry into the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed more than 260 lives, is aimed at identifying the causes behind the tragedy to prevent future incidents, not at assigning blame to any individual or entity.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made the observation while hearing petitions filed by the family of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the Pilot-in-Command of the ill-fated aircraft, and by the aviation safety NGO Safety Matters Foundation. Both petitioners have raised concerns about the fairness and procedure of the investigation being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
The petitions alleged that the AAIB probe “suffers from serious procedural infirmities” and violates the right to life and fair investigation guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, stated that no individual or authority had been blamed for the crash. “There is an international convention and a structured regime under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Foreign representatives are also involved because some victims were from abroad. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a press note stating that there is no blame attributed to anybody,” Mehta said.
The Bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, noted that the AAIB’s purpose is “not for apportionment of responsibility but to clarify the cause and give recommendations to avoid such cases in the future.” The court added that a separate or supplemental government investigation could address questions of responsibility or accountability if needed.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Captain Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father, argued that the mandated probe procedures were not being followed as per the required standards. He called for an “independent and credible” investigation to ensure transparency and public confidence.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing Safety Matters Foundation, submitted that the gravity of the incident, given the significant loss of life, necessitated a “court of enquiry” rather than merely an AAIB-led investigation.
In an earlier hearing held in September, the apex court had criticized the “selective leak” of the preliminary AAIB report, which had allegedly shaped a narrative blaming pilot error. The court emphasized that confidentiality must be maintained until the final investigation report is released.
The Supreme Court had also taken note of a foreign media article attributing the crash to pilot error and dismissed it as “nasty reporting.” The Bench stated, “No one in India believes it was the pilot’s fault,” underscoring the importance of a fair and fact-based probe.
The case continues to draw attention as families of victims and aviation safety advocates call for accountability, transparency, and adherence to international investigation standards.
