The Supreme Court of India has absolved the pilot of the ill-fated Air India plane crash from blame, ruling that he was not responsible for the tragic incident that claimed the lives of all but one passenger on board. The flight en route to London crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad in western India on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 241 individuals, including 52 British nationals. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, described himself as incredibly fortunate to have survived the crash but continues to grapple with physical and mental challenges.
In a reassuring message to the grieving father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was piloting Flight AI-171 when it tragically crashed into a medical students’ hostel, the Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that the pilot was not at fault for the catastrophe. Captain Sabharwal had been hailed as a hero for skillfully diverting the aircraft into a grassy area, avoiding a direct impact on the hostel and saving numerous lives.
Prior to the flight, Captain Sabharwal had communicated with his father, expressing his intention to call once he reached London. He had also promised his father that he would retire soon to care for him full time. The Supreme Court criticized a Wall Street Journal article that had unfairly implicated Captain Sabharwal, describing it as biased and unwarranted.
Following a petition filed by Captain Sabharwal’s father, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the central government, seeking explanations and calling for an independent judicial inquiry to replace the ongoing incomplete and biased investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The plea emphasizes the importance of identifying the true cause of the crash to prevent future incidents and uphold constitutional safeguards.
Preliminary findings by the AAIB indicated that both fuel switches supplying the plane’s engines were inexplicably turned off moments after reaching top speed, leading to the shutdown of Engine 1 and Engine 2 almost simultaneously, resulting in the fatal descent. The Supreme Court is scheduled to revisit the case on November 10, along with other related petitions.