Supreme Court Seeks Fair Probe in Air India Crash After Pilot’s Father Files Petition

New Delhi: Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, father of the late Air India pilot Captain Sumit Sabharwal, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding an impartial investigation into the plane crash that led to his son's death. He alleges that the investigating agencies ignored technical flaws in the aircraft and attempted to place all the blame on the pilots. The Supreme Court, on Friday, November 7, 2025, sought a response from the central government and the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) on this petition. Supreme Court calls Air India crash preliminary report ‘irresponsible,’ Seeks DGCA response Court's Response During the hearing, the Supreme Court told 91-year-old Pushkar Raj Sabharwal that he should not worry about his son being blamed. The court clarified that the investigation so far has not concluded that the pilots were responsible for the accident. The court also expressed displeasure over reports in the foreign media claiming that the accident was due to pilot error. The court stated that these reports are "false and misleading." The Heartbreaking Day of June 12 On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which had taken off from Ahmedabad airport for London, crashed just minutes later. The plane crashed into the mess hall of a medical college located in the Meghani Nagar area of the city, where students were having lunch at the time. In this horrific accident, 241 people, including the pilot, co-pilot, crew members, and passengers, lost their lives, while only one passenger survived. Additionally, 19 people also died at the medical college. Allegations Against Pilots Some media reports claimed that the investigation report included excerpts from the cockpit voice recording (CVR), in which a conversation between the pilots was heard—one pilot saying, "Why was the fuel cut off?" and the other responding, "I didn't do it." Following these reports, an attempt was made to highlight pilot error, which the Supreme Court had already expressed its displeasure about. The Court had stated that maintaining confidentiality until the investigation is complete is crucial and that reaching any conclusions prematurely would be wrong. [caption id="attachment_151831" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Supreme Court of India (Image Source: Internet)[/caption] Next Hearing The Supreme Court has stated that this petition will be heard along with another petition already pending before it. The next hearing is scheduled for November 10, 2025. The Court has indicated that it wants to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the investigation so that no innocent person is wrongly accused and the truth comes to light. Air India Passengers Face Yet Another Scare as London-Bound Flight Aborts Takeoff The Air India plane crash claimed the lives of hundreds of people, and this case is no longer limited to just a technical investigation; it has become a symbol of justice and transparency. The investigation will proceed under the supervision of the Supreme Court, raising hopes that the real causes will be revealed and the victim families will receive justice.