New Delhi’s Supreme Court has stepped in on the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash, granting the central government three additional weeks to wrap up its investigation. The bench led by Justice Suryakant approved the request during a recent hearing, directing authorities to submit the final report in a sealed envelope. The next court date is set three weeks from now, keeping the nation on edge for answers.
The disaster unfolded on June 12, 2025, when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London, plummeted just 32 seconds after takeoff. The plane smashed into a medical college hostel, claiming 260 lives—including 241 passengers and crew, led by Captain Sumit Sabharwal, plus 19 others on the ground. Initial findings pointed to a critical fuel supply cutoff to both engines, resulting in total loss of thrust.
Captain Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father, Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, filed a petition demanding an independent probe under judicial oversight. The Indian Pilots’ Federation echoed this call. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the inquiry is in its final stages, but some components require testing in foreign labs, justifying the time extension.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, highlighted three prior incidents on Boeing 787s involving fuel switch malfunctions. He cited concerns from 8,000 pilots deeming the aircraft unsafe and urged grounding the fleet. Recently, a London-Delhi/Bengaluru flight reported a similar fuel control switch issue; Air India grounded one plane, though DGCA found no defects.
Advocate Gopal Shankar Narayanan drew parallels to the Boeing 737 Max crashes, where pilots were initially blamed before FAA uncovered and concealed aircraft defects. Justice Suryakant noted a recent London-Delhi flight fuel switch report dismissed as minor by officials, cautioning against hasty airline blame.
As families await closure, this extension underscores the complexity of aviation forensics. The sealed report promise signals potential revelations on whether mechanical failure or other factors doomed Flight AI-171, prompting calls for stricter safety protocols across Indian skies.