The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Union government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding the investigation into the June 12 Air India crash in Gujarat that killed 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. The court stressed the need for a free, fair, impartial, and expeditious inquiry, while questioning the handling of preliminary findings.
The petition, filed by Safety Matters Foundation, raised concerns over the DGCA&rsquo;s initial report suggesting pilot error and alleged conflicts of interest within the probe panel. It highlighted the lack of clarity even after 100 days, leaving aviation safety questions unanswered.
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotishwar Singh, expressed disapproval of premature disclosures that could harm the dignity of victims&rsquo; families. It emphasized confidentiality until the final report is ready and underlined that aviation disasters should not be used for speculation or competitive rivalries.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the inquiry with support from international agencies, including the US NTSB, UK AAIB, and Boeing. A technical bulletin from the US FAA in 2018 had earlier flagged potential issues with the fuel control switch mechanism, but compliance was not enforced in India.
The Supreme Court clarified that the current notice is limited to ensuring the inquiry remains impartial and transparent. Responses from the Centre and DGCA are expected within two weeks.

Supreme Court seeks Centre, DGCA response on fair, impartial probe into Air India crash

SC Seeks Fair Probe in Air India Crash Case

Supreme Court seeks Centre, DGCA response on fair, impartial probe into Air India crash

September 22, 2025 | 21:48 IST