Overview

• Issuing notices on a public-interest plea, the court sought responses from the Centre, DGCA and AAIB over the fairness and independence of the AI171 investigation.
• Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh called selective leaks from the preliminary findings and resulting pilot-error narratives “unfortunate” and “irresponsible.”
• The court declined immediate public release of DFDR, CVR and EAFR data, stressing confidentiality until the inquiry reaches a conclusion.
• The Safety Matters Foundation petition contests the AAIB’s preliminary note on fuel‑control switches moving from RUN to CUTOFF and flags a conflict of interest with DGCA officers on the probe team.
• The matter is listed for further hearing on 11 October as the AAIB continues technical analysis with international support.