Top court gives government three weeks for detailed report
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered the central government to submit a progress report regarding the ongoing Air India crash probe within three weeks. This high-stakes inquiry, led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), focuses on the devastating June 2025 disaster in Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives.
Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also requested a formal affidavit outlining the investigative protocols utilized so far. During the Supreme Court hearing, advocates raised major questions about Boeing Dreamliner safety. However, the Chief Justice advised against prematurely condemning any specific aircraft brand based on media speculation.
Adding dark complexity to the Flight AI-171 tragedy, recent reports from an Italian newspaper suggest the disaster might not have stemmed from technical failure. Unverified claims point toward a possible intentional act. Cleaned-up cockpit voice recordings reportedly captured a disturbing final exchange where one pilot asked why the engine fuel was cut off, which the co-pilot denied doing. This revelation has shifted public focus toward pilot mental health monitoring and stricter DGCA aviation guidelines.
Despite these serious allegations of sabotage, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the official inquiry is nearing its final stages. He explained that involving international experts naturally extends the timeline. Meanwhile, advocate Prashant Bhushan highlighted an alleged conflict of interest within the AAIB and mentioned that pilot associations have been raising alarms about the Boeing 787 fleet.
The father of the flight's captain has strongly refuted foreign media claims that his son suffered from severe depression. He recently approached the apex court seeking an independent judicial inquiry into the entire aircraft accident investigation.
While the international community and locals expressing Odisha aviation concerns await the final verdict, the Supreme Court stressed that assigning blame without a completed, factual investigation remains irresponsible. Authorities must now rush to finalize their findings to bring long-awaited closure to the grieving families.
