The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to submit a progress report within three weeks on its ongoing probe into the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recorded the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, who informed the Court that the investigation was in its final stages. He sought three weeks’ time to place the relevant details on record.
The Court noted that the Solicitor General assured it that all aspects of the inquiry conducted so far — including the procedural protocol followed in accordance with international commitments — would be submitted along with a progress report. The matter has been listed for further hearing after three weeks.
During the proceedings, the Bench cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the cause of the crash. “With one stroke of the pen, you cannot say that a particular model of aircraft is defective. These are highly technical and sophisticated issues,” the Court observed.
The judges also raised questions about the broader implications of grounding the Dreamliner aircraft model, asking whether such a move would effectively ground an entire airline and how many carriers worldwide operate the aircraft.
The plea before the Court was filed by Safety Matters Foundation, seeking a court-monitored investigation into the crash.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the accident investigation manual provides for a court of inquiry in cases involving large-scale loss of life. Advocate Prashant Bhushan contended that international norms mandate a higher-level probe in such major accidents. He also questioned the composition of the AAIB team, stating that five members were from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which he claimed was itself under scrutiny.
Responding to the concerns, Solicitor General Mehta maintained that the probe was being carried out strictly in line with India’s international obligations. “This is an international investigation. At this stage, the inquiry is to determine the cause of the crash, not to fix responsibility,” he submitted.
While acknowledging the anguish of the victims’ families, the Court said it understood their concerns and was also awaiting the outcome of the investigation. However, it clarified that the proceedings should not turn into a blame game among stakeholders and emphasised the need to await the findings of the ongoing inquiry.
The case will be taken up again after three weeks.
