Air India Ahmedabad Crash: Supreme Court Told Pilot Was Not at Fault, Preliminary Report Shows

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that the preliminary investigation report into the June crash of Air India Flight 171 does not place any blame on the pilot in command, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. The statement was made during a hearing on a plea seeking a court-monitored independent investigation into the tragic accident.

A bench led by Justice Surya Kant assured Captain Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father, who appeared in person, that the pilot had not been faulted by investigators.
“The gentleman has not done anything. He is our witness. Nobody can blame him for anything,” the bench said, referring to the findings of the preliminary investigation report (PIR).

The Air India Express Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had taken off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12 en route to London Gatwick when it crashed into a hostel building of a nearby medical college. The accident killed 260 people, including 241 on board and 19 on the ground.

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary findings, the fuel control switches of both engines moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within seconds of take-off. This caused fuel starvation and dual engine failure. However, investigators did not find evidence suggesting the movement was deliberate or attributable to the pilot.

The petition filed by the pilot’s father and the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) alleged that the current probe suffers from “serious infirmities” and requested judicial oversight.

Responding to the plea, the Centre said the investigation is being carried out according to international protocols. It added that no individual has been held responsible so far. The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file detailed responses.

Aviation experts point out that while fuel control switch movement on both engines may appear intentional, AAIB’s mandate does not permit it to assign blame. Its role is limited to determining causes and recommending safety improvements. Regulators and the airline have maintained that the findings are preliminary.