Overview

• The Supreme Court issued notices seeking replies within two weeks from the Centre, the DGCA and, in some orders, the AAIB on ensuring a free, fair, independent and expeditious investigation.
• Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh called selective publication of preliminary findings and narratives blaming the pilots “unfortunate” and “very irresponsible.”
• The court declined requests to publicly release flight recorder data at this stage, stressing confidentiality, privacy and the dignity of the deceased pilots’ families.
• The PIL by Safety Matters Foundation alleges withheld DFDR, CVR and EAFR data and a conflict of interest because DGCA officers serve on the probe team, and it seeks a court-monitored independent investigator.
• AAIB’s July preliminary report said both engine fuel‑control switches moved to CUTOFF seconds after takeoff, but final conclusions remain pending as the inquiry continues.