Overview
- A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi reaffirmed that the AAIB inquiry is meant to find causes and issue safety recommendations, not assign fault.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the probe is proceeding under ICAO protocols given foreign victims, and the aviation ministry earlier clarified the preliminary report did not blame any pilot.
- The court issued notices to the Centre, DGCA and others, directed the government to file its affidavit, and asked petitioners to submit counter-replies before the next hearing.
- Petitions from Safety Matters Foundation, the Federation of Indian Pilots and the late captain’s father seek a court‑monitored independent probe, alleging withheld DFDR, full CVR transcript and EAFR data and procedural defects.
- Pilot groups raised broader Boeing 787‑8 safety concerns and called for wider review, while the Centre warned that judicial intervention could hinder the technical investigation and needlessly alarm the public.