Aircraft Accident: Petition in Supreme Court Demands New Independent Investigation, Complete Exposure of Black Box and Cockpit Information Data for Air India's Crash
The Non-profit Safety Matters Foundation has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, seeking a comprehensive investigation into the Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport on June 12. The incident claimed the lives of over 250 people, including 20 students of a medical college, and resulted in the destruction of several buildings in the area.
The PIL, filed by the Foundation founded by Amit Singh, a pilot with over 17,000 hours of flying experience on Boeing 777 and Airbus 320, argues for an independent investigator to be appointed for the accident investigation. The petition states that the current investigating team, which includes three out of the five members from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), presents a conflict of interest as the DGCA is responsible for certifying Air India's operations.
The government launched a probe through the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which released its preliminary report on July 12. However, the interim report seems to have overlooked potential causes of the crash, with a focus on 'pilot error'. The NGO's plea includes concerns about selectively made disclosures, including paraphrased references to cockpit voice recordings, lack of timestamps, full transcripts, or corroborative context.
The petition demands a court-monitored investigation into the accident, including the release of cockpit recordings transcript, black box, and technical details of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane. It also seeks the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) output, Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript with timestamps, all recorded fault messages, and technical advisories of the plane.
The NGO further claims that permitting DGCA officials to dominate the investigation amounts to the regulator sitting in judgment over itself. The stakes, according to the petition, extend beyond the families of the victims to every citizen who relies on aviation as a mode of transport. A selective or compromised inquiry, the petition states, denies justice to the victims and exposes future passengers to the same risks.
The NGO has also requested an independent investigator for the probe into the crash. The plea does not mention any new parties involved in the case, such as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) or the government. The NGO's PIL does not provide any new facts about the crash itself, such as the number of casualties or the location of the crash.
The interim report mentions the transcript of conversation between the two pilots, with one asking why the other moved the control to stop the fuel supply to the engine, and the other denying doing so. The NGO argues that this situation violates Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, information, and life. The PIL seeks full disclosure of all information related to the crash to ensure a fair and thorough investigation.
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