Final AI-171 crash report to be submitted in sealed cover in October, SC told
The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that the draft final report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) probe into the June 2025 Air
The Supreme Court was told on Tuesday that the draft final report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) probe into the June 2025 Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad will be filed before it in the first week of October in a sealed cover. The court also noted the Centre's submission that the Federation of Indian Pilots can give its inputs to the AAIB, which may consider them during the investigation if found necessary. Read Full Story A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing petitions seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the crash.
The petitions were filed by an NGO, a law student and the father of the deceased pilot. The bench has now posted the matter for further hearing on October 13. During a brief hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that four simulation tests had been conducted, as sought in an application moved by one of the petitioners. He said the final draft report would be filed before the bench in a sealed cover. The bench also took note of his submission that the Federation of Indian Pilots may submit its inputs to the AAIB, which can peruse and deal with them if required during the probe.
The AAIB had recently filed an affidavit in the top court saying the draft final report into the Ahmedabad crash, which killed 260 people, is expected to be ready in October. It had also said there is an "absolute statutory prohibition" on disclosing cockpit voice recordings and airborne image recordings from the June 12, 2025 crash to any external committee or the public. According to the bureau, sharing such material would violate Rule 17(1) and Rule 17(5) read with Schedule C of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025. Earlier, the bench had asked the Centre to file a brief report on the "procedural protocol" followed so far after it was told that the AAIB investigation was at its fag end.
Air India's Boeing 787-8 flight AI171, headed to London's Gatwick airport, was operated by pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder, and crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was among those killed. Ends
The BriefWire