Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Petitions Related to June 12 Air India Crash

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions concerning the Air India crash that occurred on June 12, 2025. An NGO has filed a public interest litigation (PIL), alleging that the official investigation violated citizens’ fundamental rights, including the right to life, equality, and access to accurate information.

Details of the Tragic Crash
The ill-fated flight, Air India Boeing 787-8 AI171, was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, operated by Pilot-in-Command Captain Sumit Sabharwal and Co-Pilot Captain Clive Kunder. The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of all 260 people on board, including 241 passengers and crew members.

Government Yet to Respond
During Wednesday’s hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymaly Bagchi, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO Safety Matters Foundation, informed the court that neither the central government nor the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) has filed a response. Bhushan added that the pilots’ union has raised concerns about potential issues with the Boeing 787 and recommended grounding the aircraft.

Upcoming Hearings
The Chief Justice noted that hearings on petitions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls would conclude on Wednesday, after which the court will schedule a date for the Air India crash petitions. Last year, on November 13, the Supreme Court observed that the preliminary AAIB report did not hold the late Captain Sabharwal responsible for the accident.

Court Notices and Independent Investigation Demands
The court had previously issued notices to the central government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following a petition filed by Captain Sabharwal’s father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal. Alongside the Federation of Indian Pilots, he has requested an independent investigation under court supervision. The Supreme Court is hearing three petitions in total: filed by an NGO, a law student, and the deceased pilot’s father, all demanding a judicially-monitored inquiry into the tragedy.