Recently, the Supreme Court expressed apprehensions regarding the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the June 12 Air India crash, calling certain conclusions “irresponsible.” The Court issued notices to the Central government and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following a plea seeking an impartial, thorough, and prompt investigation.
The crash involved Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 traveling from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, which struck a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off, resulting in 265 fatalities, including 241 passengers and crew. Among the victims were 169 Indians, 52 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian, and 12 crew members. The only survivor was Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British national. The AAIB preliminary report, released on July 12, suggested that the accident occurred due to the fuel cut-off switches being moved from “run” to “cut-off,” implying potential pilot error.
The petition, filed by the aviation safety NGO Safety Matters Foundation, led by Captain Amit Singh (FRAeS), argued that the investigation lacked independence, as three members of the probe panel were affiliated with the aviation regulator, creating a possible conflict of interest. The petitioners also sought access to crucial data, including the full Flight Data Recorder (FDR) output, Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcripts with timestamps, and Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR) information, asserting that these were vital for a transparent and objective understanding of the crash. Advocate Prashant Bhushan represented the NGO in the proceedings.
The Bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, highlighted concerns regarding confidentiality, privacy, and commercial sensitivity, cautioning that certain information could be misused by competitors in the aviation sector. The Court clarified that its notice was limited to addressing the fairness and independence of the investigation, not a blanket release of all sensitive data.
The Court issued notices to the Centre and the DGCA, indicating that further action would focus on ensuring a neutral and comprehensive probe. While the Court did not immediately order disclosure of all technical data, the development underscores the judiciary’s emphasis on accountability and transparency in the investigation of the crash.
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