Key Points
- Aviation safety NGO Safety Matters Foundation has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court regarding the Air India Flight AI171 crash.
- The PIL seeks an independent, court-monitored investigation, alleging the official probe is biased and conceals crucial data.
- The petition claims the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) prematurely blamed pilot error while ignoring potential systemic and electrical faults.
- Key evidence, including full Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcripts, has allegedly been withheld.
- The crash on June 12, 2025, killed 260 people, including passengers, crew, and 19 individuals on the ground, with only one survivor.
New Delhi: An aviation safety NGO, Safety Matters Foundation, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, demanding a transparent, court-monitored investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The petition alleges that the official investigation has been marred by a conflict of interest and has deliberately concealed crucial facts, thereby violating the fundamental rights of citizens to life, safety, and truthful information.
The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of 260 people, including 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground.
Allegations of a Biased and Incomplete Investigation
The petition, filed by the foundation’s head, Captain Amit Singh (FRAES), challenges the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12. The AAIB report attributed the crash to the fuel control switches of both engines moving from “run” to “cutoff” mode, implying pilot error as the primary cause.
However, the PIL argues that this conclusion is premature and based on selective information. It claims the AAIB has withheld vital data, including:
- The complete Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) output.
- The full, time-stamped transcript of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).
- Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR) data.
The petition highlights that the CVR recordings reportedly captured one pilot asking the other why he had cut the fuel switches, to which the other replied that he had not, suggesting a potential malfunction over pilot action. Furthermore, the plea notes that the report fails to include the testimony of the lone survivor, British citizen Vishwaskumar Ramesh, whose account of flickering lights and the plane feeling “stuck in the air” points to possible electrical issues.
Systemic Flaws and Conflict of Interest
The PIL contends that the investigation has overlooked documented system anomalies, including pre-existing fuel switch defects and electrical faults recorded just before takeoff. A 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bulletin had previously warned about potential issues with the fuel control switch locking mechanism on this aircraft model, but no mandatory actions were taken.
A significant conflict of interest has also been flagged, as three of the five members of the investigating team are from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The PIL argues that since the DGCA is responsible for regulatory oversight, its heavy involvement in the probe violates the principles of an independent investigation mandated by international standards like Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention.
By filing the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, Safety Matters Foundation asserts that a flawed inquiry into a mass-casualty event compromises public safety and denies justice to the victims and their families.
