Supreme Court Demands Justice: Air India Pilot’s Father’s Plea Highlights Crisis Affecting 1.42 Billion Lives
The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following a plea from Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the father of an Air India pilot tragically killed in the June 12 plane crash that claimed the lives of 250 individuals. During the hearing, justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi reassured the 91-year-old Sabharwal that neither he nor his late son should bear any blame for the tragic incident.
Sabharwal’s son, Sumeet Sabharwal, was the pilot-in-command of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the accident. In support of the appeal for a judicial inquiry, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has also submitted a petition echoing similar concerns. Representing Sabharwal, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan was informed by the bench that the family should not feel any implied guilt regarding the situation. “This is an extremely unfortunate accident. But you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed,” the justices stated, as reported by legal news platform LiveLaw.
The court’s intervention comes in light of a preliminary investigation report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which revealed that fuel supply to both engines was cut shortly after takeoff. The report noted that the fuel control switches were quickly moved to the “cutoff” position but were switched back on approximately ten seconds later, leading to an engine flameout and the subsequent crash.
Justice Kant emphasized that the pilot should not be held accountable, stating, “We are a country of 1.2 billion people and none of them believes the blame has to go to the pilot.” The court has agreed to consider the petition for an independent investigation in conjunction with another pending plea from the non-profit organization, Safety Matters, next week.
The Supreme Court also made it clear that any insinuations made in foreign journals regarding the pilot’s culpability should be dealt with in an appropriate court, rather than in Indian judicial proceedings. “Whatever could be the reason for the tragedy, it is not the pilots,” the justices declared.
As the case unfolds, the growing concern surrounding the accountability and investigations into aviation accidents continues to capture public interest. This latest development underscores the importance of ensuring thorough and unbiased inquiries into such tragedies, as families seek justice for their loved ones. The ongoing legal proceedings are set to continue, reflecting a complex interplay of aviation safety, regulatory oversight, and the human impact of catastrophic events.
Given the significant public interest in the topic of aviation safety, the Supreme Court’s actions may restore some measure of assurance among pilots and their families, addressing fears related to reputational harm and emphasizing the collective understanding that pilots are not to be blamed for such unfortunate incidents. Further updates from the court and investigative bodies are awaited as stakeholders continue to push for clarity and accountability in the wake of this devastating crash.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/supreme-court-issues-notice-to-centre-on-air-india-pilots-fathers-plea-for-judicial-inquiry-11762495174119.html
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Publish Date: 2025-11-07 11:32:00
