The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that it is fully competent to investigate the June 12, 2025 Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives, and has opposed petitions seeking an independent, court-monitored inquiry.
In a counter affidavit, the AAIB stated that it is a specialised statutory body established in July 2012 and has completed 218 investigations, including 97 aircraft accidents and 120 serious incidents. It argued that its experience and adherence to international standards make it fully capable of conducting the probe without judicial intervention.
The Bureau informed the Court that the investigation is expected to be completed within six weeks, with the draft final report likely to be ready by October 2026. It added that the Central Government is conducting the investigation with utmost seriousness and in accordance with domestic law and international aviation protocols to ensure that the root cause of the crash is determined through a transparent process.
The AAIB emphasised that the inquiry is governed by the Chicago Convention and ICAO Annex 13, along with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025. Since the crash involved an international flight, the investigation includes participation from the State of Registry, State of Operator, State of Design and State of Manufacture, making it an internationally supervised process rather than a purely domestic inquiry.
The affidavit was filed in response to petitions by the Safety Matters Foundation and Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of deceased pilot Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, seeking an independent judicial probe. The petitioners have questioned the impartiality of the AAIB’s preliminary report, alleging selective disclosures, possible conflict of interest involving DGCA officials, and an undue focus on pilot error. They contend that an independent investigation is necessary to ensure transparency and strengthen aviation safety.
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to order a separate inquiry after the Centre submitted that the investigation was nearing completion and was being conducted under the internationally recognised framework prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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