“Unfortunate”: Supreme Court Questions Pilot Error Claim in Air India AI 171 Crash Report

SC seeks Centre, DGCA response over call for independent probe; questions raised over pilot conversation and systemic failures

Supreme Court Flags Concerns Over AI 171 Crash Report

The Supreme Court of India has called the attribution of the Air India AI 171 crash to “pilot error” “unfortunate”, and has issued notices to:

• Centre (Government of India)
• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
• Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

This comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding an independent probe into the crash that claimed 265 lives.

Controversial Cockpit Conversation in Report

The preliminary crash report, released by the AAIB in July, revealed a cockpit voice recording between:

• Captain Sumeet Sabharwal
• First Officer Clive Kundar

In the audio:

• One pilot is heard asking: “Why did you cut off?”
• The other replies: “I didn’t.”

This raised speculation of pilot error being the cause of the crash.

PIL Alleges Incomplete, Misleading Investigation

The PIL, filed by aviation safety NGO Constitution by Safety Matters Foundation, alleges:

• The report withholds critical information
• Systemic issues, such as fuel-switch defects and electrical failures, were downplayed
• Prematurely blaming pilot error violates the public’s fundamental rights to:
  • Life
  • Equality
  • Access to truthful information

Key Issues Raised in the PIL

• Lack of transparency in the preliminary investigation
• Neglect of mechanical/systemic anomalies
• Danger of establishing pilot blame prematurely, without full evidence
• Need for an independent, impartial probe

What’s Next?

The Supreme Court has directed all involved parties to file responses. The matter is expected to gain more attention as calls grow louder for:

• A thorough, independent investigation
• Accountability for lapses in aviation safety oversight