The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a status report within three weeks on the probe into the Ahmedabad air crash that claimed 260 lives. Hearing a PIL
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filed by an NGO - Safety Matters Foundation through advocate Pranav Sachdeva, which seeks an independent court monitored investigation, the bench asked the Centre and aviation authorities to clarify the procedural protocol being followed in the inquiry. “What is procedural protocol followed? Tell us in 3 weeks,” the court said. The Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight AI-171, operated by Air India using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the DGCA, submitted that the investigation was nearing completion. “We are at fag end of enquiry, report will śoon be prepared,” he told the court.
Explaining the delay, he added, “We are at fag end some parts of the aircraft had to be flown to some foreign countries for test. Also procedure adopted in foreign countries is also studied. Also those who lost lives are of various nationalities that aspect too there.”
Chief Justice Kant observed, “Very unfortunate tragedy. Let us be very careful while making remarks against any particular brand of aircraft. Yes Dreamliners were once considered the best.”
Referring to recent reports, the CJI said, “Last week it was said that the Dreamliner from London to Delhi had some problem with fuel switch. Later it was said from offical account that it was perfectly fine. But this incident of course was very unfortunate. Let us be very conservative also on making comments on a particular airline. Dreamliner was once hailed as the best. I was travelling that time from Paris so i was following the developments.”
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, told the bench, “The entire pilots association are saying there is a problem in the Boeing 787 aircraft which needs to be grounded.”
He also submitted that neither the government nor the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board had responded to the petition.
