Overview
- The bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi told the 91-year-old father that his son cannot be blamed, noting no insinuation against the cockpit crew in the AAIB’s preliminary findings.
- The court issued notice to the Centre, DGCA and AAIB and scheduled further hearing on November 10 alongside a related matter.
- The petition by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal and the Federation of Indian Pilots argues the ongoing AAIB/DGCA probe lacks independence and seeks a panel led by a retired Supreme Court judge with aviation experts.
- The plea highlights technical anomalies, including near-simultaneous movement of both engine fuel control switches to CUTOFF and Ram Air Turbine deployment, and calls for independent software forensics and manufacturer engagement.
- The bench dismissed foreign media accounts suggesting pilot error as irrelevant to judicial proceedings, stating any grievance should be pursued in the appropriate foreign forum, while the multi-agency investigation continues.