AI 171 Crash Twist I Pilots Fight Back I Top Court Asks Modi Government to Respond I Barkha

The Supreme Court has intervened in the Air India Flight 171 crash investigation following a public interest petition by Captain Amit Singh of the Safety Matters Foundation. He explains why blaming pilots without complete evidence can tarnish reputations and undermine aviation safety reforms. The petition challenges the preliminary report, which hinted at pilot error, and raises concerns about a conflict of interest in the probe panel.

Barkha Dutt dives deep into the controversy, legal perspectives, and the need for proper safety investigations.

Singh emphasized the need for an independent, transparent investigation to uncover technical failures, including issues with the black boxes and emergency locator transmitters, rather than blaming the pilots. The Court acknowledged the irresponsible narrative against Captain Sumit Sabharval and issued notices to all parties, signaling the possibility of a fair, court-monitored inquiry.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh supported the call for a free, fair, and independent investigation into the disaster. The court also highlighted how a single line in the AAIB’s report about a ‘fuel switch’ sparked damaging speculation about the pilots’ intent.