{"id":120001,"date":"2025-11-08T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T03:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=120001"},"modified":"2025-11-08T04:14:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T22:44:44","slug":"supreme-court-says-pilot-not-responsible-in-air-india-ai171-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/08\/supreme-court-says-pilot-not-responsible-in-air-india-ai171-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court Says Pilot Not Responsible in Air India AI171 Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW DELHI-<\/strong> On 7 November\u202f2025, the Supreme Court of India addressed the petition filed by the father of the late pilot of Air India Flight AI 171. The flight, operated by Air India (AI)<\/a> and departing from Ahmedabad\u202fAirport (AMD) to London Heathrow(LHR)<\/a>, crashed on 12 June\u202f2025, killing over 250 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Court made clear that the preliminary investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) does not suggest any culpability on the part of the pilot\u2011in\u2011command, reassuring the pilot\u2019s family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Supreme
Photo- X Sources; Compiled by Aviation A2Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Supreme Court Gets Petition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The AAIB\u2019s initial report noted that shortly after take\u2011off from Ahmedabad, the flight\u2019s two engine fuel\u2011control switches moved from \u201cRUN\u201d to \u201cCUTOFF\u201d almost simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Court emphasised that while this data is part of the factual record, the report does not<\/em> attribute those actions to deliberate pilot error. According to the accident report<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so…..At about 8:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted \u201cMAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY\u201d. The
ATCO enquired about the call sign. ATCO did not get any response but observed the aircraft crashing outside the airport boundary<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The hearing of 7 November issued notices to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) setting a further date of 10 November to decide whether a judicially monitored independent inquiry should be convened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Air
Photo: PTI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pilot Liability and Public Perception<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the petitioner \u2014 the 91\u2011year\u2011old father of the deceased commander \u2014 the bench said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s extremely unfortunate this crash occurred, but you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed. Nobody can blame him for anything.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

One judge added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There is no insinuation against him in the report\u2026 We are a country of 142\u202fcrore people and none of them believe the blame has to go to the pilot.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Court also dismissed foreign media stories that alleged deliberate action by the pilot, calling the reporting \u201cnasty\u201d and stressing that Indian investigation frameworks\u2014not external press commentary\u2014govern the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"PM
Photo: PM Narendra Modi X Handle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n