The father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the Pilot-in-Command of Air India flight AI-171, has moved the Supreme Court of India seeking an independent, judicially monitored investigation into the tragic crash that claimed 260 lives near Ahmedabad in June 2023. The petition, filed jointly with the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) on October 10, 2025, requests the constitution of a “Court Monitored Committee”, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, along with independent aviation and technical experts to ensure a fair, transparent, and technically sound probe into the accident.

The petitioners have expressed serious concerns over the ongoing government investigation, alleging that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is disproportionately focused on pilot error. Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, father of the late captain, criticized the AAIB for lacking credibility and transparency, stating the investigation “predominantly focus[es] on the deceased pilots while failing to examine or eliminate other more plausible technical and procedural causes.”

The plea demands that all prior AAIB investigations be closed and that all evidence be handed over to the new judicially supervised inquiry. Sabharwal also claimed that two AAIB officials suggested his son might have cut fuel supply to the engines after takeoff, a charge denied by the government, which describes the current probe as “very clean” and “very thorough.”

The petition stresses the need for a comprehensive investigation that looks beyond pilot actions, examining technical failures, procedural lapses, and all potential contributing factors. Sources indicate that the government’s current emphasis on pilot error may undermine efforts to uncover the full truth behind the disaster.

Background of the AI-171 crash:
On June 12, 2023, Air India flight AI-171 crashed shortly after departing Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities, including 241 passengers. Preliminary AAIB reports noted that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s fuel engine switches reportedly flipped from “run” to “cutoff” almost simultaneously after takeoff. Early assessments, including cockpit voice recordings, suggested Captain Sabharwal may have cut fuel flow to the engines. However, the pilot’s family and FIP maintain that technical and procedural failures must also be fully examined to establish the complete cause of the accident.

This Supreme Court petition represents a major escalation in demands for an impartial, credible investigation into one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent history. It highlights ongoing tensions between the government, victim families, and the pilot community, emphasizing the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and technically robust findings to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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