India’s Supreme Court: Air India Crash Report Does Not Blame Pilot
India’s Supreme Court stated that the preliminary report on the June Air India crash, killing 260 people, does not implicate the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. The court advised the pilot’s father not to bear the burden of blame and will hear a plea for an independent investigation. The report indicated a technical fault possibly caused by fuel control switches shifting from 'run' to 'cutoff' after takeoff.
Following the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in June, which killed all 260 aboard, India’s Supreme Court clarified that the initial investigation does not blame the pilot-in-command, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. The court urged the pilot’s father, Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, who petitioned for an independent probe led by aviation experts, not to feel burdened by allegations of fault. The interim report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) pointed to a technical issue when the Dreamliner’s fuel control switches moved almost simultaneously from 'run' to 'cutoff', causing engine flameout shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Though the switches were restored about 10 seconds later, power could not be recovered, leading to the fatal crash. The report noted that one pilot queried the other about the fuel switch positions, with denial of intentional action. The investigation is ongoing and includes experts in aviation medicine and psychology, with no ruling out of technical malfunction. The Supreme Court has summoned relevant authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the central government, to respond to the petitions. The Federation of Indian Pilots also seeks an independent judicial inquiry. The pilot’s family and legal representatives argued the government inquiry lacked impartiality. The court dismissed concerns from foreign media reports and emphasized the thoroughness of the AAIB probe. Meanwhile, Air India has committed to reviewing operational procedures despite no fault being found in airline operations by the current investigation.
