The Supreme Court has given the Centre a three-week deadline to provide an update on the investigation into the Ahmedabad air crash that resulted in 260 fatalities. The court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, was addressing petitions, including one from the father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the Pilot-in-Command of the ill-fated Air India flight AI-171 that crashed in June 2025. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the inquiry by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was nearing completion.
The Centre’s representative mentioned that the investigation was in its final stages, with certain aircraft components sent abroad for specialized testing. Due to the involvement of victims from various nationalities, international protocols were being followed in the inquiry process. Responding to this, the Bench led by the CJI granted the Centre three weeks to conclude the investigation and instructed that a sealed report, along with a detailed procedural affidavit, be submitted.
Advocates representing different parties highlighted concerns during the hearing. An advocate for an NGO raised issues regarding the safety of Boeing 787 aircraft and requested grounding pending further examination. Another advocate, representing Captain Sabharwal’s father, reiterated the demand for a court-monitored investigation, citing past instances where initial blame on pilots in aircraft crashes was later attributed to technical faults. The court cautioned against premature judgments on specific aircraft models or airlines without conclusive evidence, emphasizing the need for careful consideration in such matters.
