Air India Crash | NGO Moves Supreme Court Alleging Bias In Preliminary Probe; Seeks Disclosure Of Flight Data & Court-Monitored Probe
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI171, which killed 260 people, including passengers, crew and persons on the ground, on June 12, 2025.The petition, filed by Safety Matters Foundation, an aviation safety NGO led by Capt. Amit Singh FRAeS, under Article 32 of the...
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the crash of Air India Flight AI171, which killed 260 people, including passengers, crew and persons on the ground, on June 12, 2025.
The petition, filed by Safety Matters Foundation, an aviation safety NGO led by Capt. Amit Singh FRAeS, under Article 32 of the Constitution, alleges that the manner in which the probe has been conducted violates the fundamental rights to life, equality, and truthful information.
According to the petition, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) issued its Preliminary Report on July 12, 2025, attributing the crash to “fuel cutoff switches” being moved from RUN to CUTOFF, thereby suggesting pilot error. The petitioner contends that the report withholds crucial flight data such as the complete Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) output, the full Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript with timestamps, and the Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR) data, all of which are essential for an objective understanding of the incident.
The petition further argues that the report downplays documented system anomalies, including fuel switch defects, electrical faults, RAT deployment and electrical disturbances, and prematurely points towards pilot error in a manner contrary to Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, which mandates an independent and prevention-focused investigation. The petitioner has also flagged a conflict of interest, noting that officers of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) dominate the investigating team even though the DGCA itself is under scrutiny for regulatory oversight lapses. Such an approach, it is argued, undermines public trust in aviation safety and could harm India's credibility under the standards laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The PIL submits that "selective and biased" inquiry in a disaster of this magnitude violates Article 21 of the Constitution by compromising citizens' right to life, safety and dignity, is arbitrary and contrary to Article 14, and suppresses truthful information in breach of Article 19(1)(a). It warns that failure to address these issues sets a dangerous precedent by leaving systemic risks unaddressed, potentially endangering future passengers.
The petitioner has therefore sought directions for the immediate public disclosure of all basic factual data relating to the crash, including DFDR, CVR and fault message records, and the appointment of an independent investigator of appropriate qualification and standing, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, to oversee the ongoing investigation.
The petition has been filed through AoR Pranav Sachdeva.
Case: Safety Matters Foundation v. Union of India & Ors. | Diary No.: 53715 / 2025