NATIONAL: Air India Crash: Supreme Court Calls Blaming Pilots Unfortunate
India’s Supreme Court has voiced sharp disapproval over the selective release of parts from the preliminary report on the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
Describing the move as unfortunate and irresponsible, the court highlighted how it fueled media narratives unfairly targeting the pilots.
With the lives of 260 victims at stake, the judges stressed the need for airtight confidentiality until the full probe wraps up.
A bench led by Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh underscored that such leaks undermine the gravity of the incident.
The hearing stemmed from a petition by the Safety Matters Foundation, urging greater transparency in aviation safety matters.
This development comes amid growing calls for accountability in air travel oversight.
Petitioner’s Push for Truth
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, argued that leaked snippets pointing to pilot errors on fuel switches had sparked global headlines vilifying the crew.
He pressed for public access to flight data recorder insights, insisting people deserve to grasp the true crash causes.
The plea also flagged potential biases in the investigation setup.
Bhushan specifically challenged the makeup of the probe team, noting three DGCA officials’ inclusion despite the regulator’s own role under scrutiny.
This, he claimed, risks conflicts and erodes trust in the process. The foundation seeks an overhaul to ensure impartiality from the start.
Court’s Measured Directives
Justice Surya Kant firmly ruled against immediate disclosure of sensitive data, deeming it premature at this juncture.
Yet the bench endorsed the call for a swift, independent, and open inquiry into the June 12 disaster.
Notices went out to the central government, DGCA, and AAIB, inviting their input on these vital concerns.
The directives signal a balanced approach: safeguarding probe integrity while acknowledging public interest.
As responses trickle in, the case could redefine how aviation mishaps are handled in India.
Will leaks continue to cloud justice or force a cleaner path forward? The coming weeks may reveal more.