Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre and DGCA Over Air India Ahmedabad Crash, Seeks Clarity on Pilot’s Role

The Supreme Court has issued a notice regarding the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. The court passed this order on a petition filed by Pushkarraj Sabharwal, whose son Sumit was the pilot-in-command of Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The court has issued a notice to the Central Government and DGCA that the pilot-in-command could not be held responsible for the accident.

Indeed, the father of deceased Air India pilot Sumit Sabharwal has demanded a judicial inquiry into the plane crash. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) also filed a petition with the same demand.

Hearing the petition, Justice Surya Kant told the deceased pilot's father, Sumit Sabharwal, "This accident was extremely unfortunate, but you shouldn't have to bear the burden of your son being blamed."

The father of deceased pilot Sumit Sabharwal approached the Supreme Court after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) stated in its preliminary report released in July that fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after takeoff. The investigation report stated that the fuel control switches went to the "cutoff" position one after the other. Although the switches were turned back on after about 10 seconds, the engines had already ignited, leading to the accident.

It is noteworthy that on June 12, an Air India plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) reported that both engines of the plane failed 90 seconds after takeoff, causing the plane to rapidly descend. The accident claimed the lives of 241 people on board, along with 34 others. The total death toll was approximately 275.