Supreme Court lashes out at handling of Air India crash aftermath; calls for government response before independent probe
High court criticizes leaks and selective reporting as petitions seek an independent investigation into the June disaster
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday sharply criticized the aviation authorities for the way they handled the aftermath of the Air India crash that killed 261 people in June, and demanded that the government respond to petitions seeking an independent investigation before it rules on the matter. The court said it would decide on a separate petition filed by activists seeking an independent inquiry into the disaster and urged a timely government response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The crash occurred moments after take-off from Ahmedabad, bound for Gatwick, with 242 people on board and 19 on the ground killed in the disaster. Only one person survived. The court’s comments come amid scrutiny of how information surrounding the incident has been disclosed and interpreted by officials as investigators continue to examine the sequence of events that led to the crash.
The court described the aviation authority’s leaks to the media suggesting that pilot error caused the crash as irresponsible. It cited a preliminary report released on July 12 that said fuel supply to the engines was cut off just seconds after take-off and noted a cockpit voice recording in which one pilot asks why the fuel was cut off and another replies that he did not cut it. The judges stressed that the public pattern of leaks and partial disclosures can hinder accountability and public confidence in crisis response.
One of India’s Supreme Court judges said the suggestion that the pilots deliberately shut off fuel was very unfortunate and irresponsible, and the court condemned the release of the report as selective and piecemeal. The ruling underscores the judges’ call for a transparent and authoritative accounting of the crash and signals that any independent probe would need to be supported by a coherent, government-led response to activists’ petitions.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the country’s aviation regulator, has defended India’s safety record, telling the BBC in July that ``India’s skies have always been safe.'' In the same month, the DGCA disclosed 51 safety violations at Air India in the preceding year as part of its annual airline audit, a finding that adds to concerns about safety oversight in the sector.
Separately, the families of four Air India crash victims filed a lawsuit in the United States against aircraft maker Boeing and parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence and saying they were aware of risks associated with the design. Lawyers for the families argue that the manufacturers bore responsibility for known concerns related to the aircraft’s design and equipment.
The case comes amid renewed scrutiny of India’s aviation oversight, with critics calling for greater transparency and a credible, independent investigation into the June disaster as officials prepare for a potential Supreme Court ruling on the petitions seeking such an inquiry.