SC: Don't Carry Burden, Says Top Court to Air India Pilot's Father

In a significant moment at the Supreme Court, the father of Air India pilot Sumeet Sabharwal heard the bench stress that neither he nor the cockpit crew should bear any blame for the crash near Ahmedabad. The justices made it clear that there is no fault attributed to the pilot in the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

A petition filed by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the pilot's father, seeks a judicially monitored investigation into the tragedy, arguing that the preliminary findings appeared biased and incomplete. The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, said the family should not carry the burden of being blamed and that the court could record this position formally. They noted that the preliminary report does not insinuate fault by the pilot; instead, it records a cockpit recorder inquiry where one pilot asks if a fuel switch was turned off and the other responds negatively.

The court also stated that the main aim of the investigation is to prevent recurrence of such incidents. It agreed to hear the petition for a court-monitored probe next week alongside a similar plea filed by the NGO Safety Matters Foundation. The Centre and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been asked to respond. The bench referenced Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, indicating the legal framework governing formal investigations.

As this case unfolds, the court emphasized fairness and the need for a thorough, independent inquiry to ensure future safety. The family of the late captain and the broader public await clarity, transparency, and steps that could prevent similar tragedies in Indian aviation.

Cover image source: ‘No one in India believes it was the pilot’s fault’: SC says Air India crash report does not insinuate anything against pilot 🔗

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