AI 171 Crash: Shocking Twist as Pilot’s Father Speaks Out – ‘My Son’s Reputation’ | Capt. Sumeet

Captain Sumeet lost his life along with passengers in the tragic crash, but speculation in sections of the media has wrongly linked the disaster to his mental health. Reports pointed to his divorce and his mother’s death, attempting to build a case of “suicide murder.” Pushkaraj calls these “innuendos and selective leaks” that have not only tarnished his son’s reputation but also damaged his own mental health.

The letter strongly disputes the preliminary AAIB report, which allegedly gave “copious clean chits” to manufacturers Boeing and GE while raising insinuations against the pilot. The 91-year-old argues that such bias overlooks possible technical faults in the aircraft. He has demanded a fresh judicial probe supervised by an independent authority.

Pushkaraj has warned that unless the Ministry issues a public statement clarifying that the suicide theory is speculative and baseless, he will move court within seven days. The Federation of Indian Pilots has backed his call, saying a judicial inquiry is the only way to restore faith in the investigation.

As interviewer Barkha Dutt concluded, this is not only about a grieving father’s fight to protect his son’s honour. It is also about ensuring fairness, accountability, and dignity for all families who lost loved ones on AI171.