‘Unfortunate, Irresponsible’: SC On Pilot’s ‘Fuel Shut-Off’ Remark In Air India Crash Report

The Supreme Court on Monday took strong exception to reports suggesting that pilots deliberately shut off fuel supply in connection with the Air India crash. During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant described such claims as “very unfortunate and irresponsible.”

The remark came after senior advocate Prashant Bhushan pointed out that a Wall Street Journal article, published before the official report was submitted to the government, had cited sources claiming that the pilots were being blamed. Bhushan argued that the narrative of pilot error, including allegations of deliberately shutting off fuel supply, had spread even though the pilots were highly experienced.

Calling for transparency, Bhushan said independent experts should be allowed to examine

the flight data recorder to ascertain what actually happened. Justice Kant, however, emphasised the need for confidentiality in such sensitive matters, stating, “Let’s see. But confidentiality is most important in these kinds of cases.”

The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh was hearing a PIL that seeks a court-monitored independent probe into the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives, including 19 people on the ground.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, argued that more than 100 days have passed since the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, yet only a preliminary inquiry report has been released.

“Till today there is no report, no guidance on what happened. All passengers traveling on Boeing 787s are still at risk,” he submitted. Bhushan flagged a conflict of interest, pointing out that three members of the probe team are serving officials of the DGCA, one of the very bodies whose role in ensuring safety standards also needs scrutiny.

He pressed for transparency over the flight data recorder, contending that families of victims and former pilots fear a cryptic line in the preliminary report, suggesting pilot error, was prematurely highlighted by international media. Bhushan insisted that confidentiality in this case cannot be justified, as the pilots and crew have all perished.

The bench, however, cautioned against speculation. Justice Surya Kant observed, “To the extent of a fair and impartial inquiry, it is important, but why are you asking for so many details to come in the public domain? If the data records are made public, people will sit in their podcast rooms and spin theories. If tomorrow someone irresponsibly says a pilot is at fault, the family will suffer — and if later the report clears them, then what happens?”

Bhushan countered that the preliminary report itself noted issues with the aircraft that were not taken seriously by the DGCA, adding that the full inquiry must be made public. The Supreme Court has now issued notice on the PIL and asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA to respond.