NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and others over a plea seeking a court-monitored independent investigation into the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
A two-judge Bench of the top court, headed by Justice Surya Kant and also comprising Justice N Kotiswar Singh, heard the plea filed by Safety Matters Foundation, an aviation safety organisation, headed by Captain Amit Singh.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, arguing for the petitioner, highlighted reports 'blaming' the pilots for the crash. The court responded that it was 'logical' for the petitioner to demand for a fair and impartial probe.
Terming the incident as "unfortunate and irresponsible... to leak selective information," the court also questioned the demand for disclosure of the Flight Data Recorder.
Notably, it suggested for maintaining confidentiality till a regular inquiry was taken to a 'logical' conclusion. "When this kind of tragedy happens... Boeing and Airbus will not be attributed with fault, and the entire airline is run down," the Bench noted.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft went down minutes after take-off.
The plea filed by SMF, led by Amit Singh, challenged the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12, alleged violation of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, which mandate full disclosure of factual data gathered in the early stages of an inquiry.
The petition of SMF, stated that when citizens entrusted their lives to air travel, they do so on the faith that the State will ensure a regime of transparency, accountability, and fairness in the investigation of accidents.
“A selective or compromised inquiry not only denies justice to the victims but also exposes future passengers to the same systemic risks. The importance of this petition, therefore, lies not only in seeking answers for the present disaster but in safeguarding the lives of countless others who continue to fly with the belief that the skies are secure,” the plea said.
Bhushan also raised the issue of conflict of interest as the inquiry committee comprised officials from the DGCA. "When hundreds of lives are lost in a single catastrophic event, the nation not only mourns the dead but also looks to the investigative process as a source of truth, accountability, and assurance that such a disaster will not recur. The stakes, therefore, are not limited to the families of the victims but extend to every citizen," the plea said.
