A Public Interest Litigation has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a transparent, court-monitored investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.

 

The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by Safety Matters Foundation, an aviation safety NGO led by Capt. Amit Singh FRAeS, asserts that the official probe into the crash is fundamentally flawed and violates the rights of citizens under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21. The plea has been filed through Advocate-on-Record Pranav Sachdeva.

 

According to the PIL, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its Preliminary Report on July 12, 2025, attributing the disaster to “fuel cutoff switches” being moved from RUN to CUTOFF, effectively indicating pilot error. The petitioner contends that this finding is selective and misleading as the report does not disclose crucial evidence.

 

Specifically, the petition points to the non-disclosure of the complete Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) output, the full Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript with timestamps, and the Electronic Aircraft Fault Recording (EAFR) data. These records, it argues, are indispensable for an independent assessment of the chain of events and the systemic issues that may have contributed to the accident.

 

The plea further alleges that the AAIB report glosses over multiple documented system anomalies. These include defective fuel switches, electrical malfunctions, Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployment, and unexplained electrical disturbances—all of which, the petitioner asserts, are material factors. By prematurely shifting the blame to human error, the probe not only disregards critical evidence but also contravenes the principles of Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, which calls for impartial, prevention-oriented investigations.

 

Raising concerns about institutional bias, the petition highlights that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which itself is under scrutiny for regulatory oversight lapses in the Air India crash, dominates the AAIB’s investigating team. This dual role, according to the petitioner, amounts to a conflict of interest and undermines both the credibility of the investigation and public trust in aviation safety.

 

The PIL submits that a “selective and biased” probe into a catastrophe of this scale breaches the right to life and safety under Article 21, is arbitrary and violative of Article 14, and suppresses access to accurate information in breach of Article 19(1)(a). It warns that such an approach sets a dangerous precedent by leaving systemic risks unexamined, potentially endangering future passengers and compromising India’s obligations under international aviation safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

 

The petitioner has therefore sought urgent directions for:

• Public disclosure of all fundamental data from the crash, including DFDR output, CVR transcripts, and EAFR/fault messages.

• Appointment of an independent investigator of internationally recognized qualification and standing.

• Court-monitored oversight of the continuing investigation to ensure impartiality, transparency, and compliance with global standards.

 

The petition emphasizes that only such a mechanism can restore faith in aviation safety oversight, uphold constitutional guarantees, and prevent recurrence of tragedies of this magnitude.