Pilot’s Father Moves Supreme Court, Seeks Judicial Inquiry Into Air India Dreamliner Crash

The father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, one of the pilots who died in the Air India Dreamliner crash that claimed 260 lives, has approached the Supreme Court demanding a judicially monitored investigation into the tragedy. The plea, filed by Pushkaraj Sabharwal along with the Federation of Indian Pilots, seeks the closure of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) probe, alleging serious lapses and lack of transparency in its findings.

The petition urges the apex court to constitute a new investigation panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, assisted by independent aviation and technical experts. It contends that the AAIB’s preliminary report released on July 12 contains major discrepancies, omissions, and procedural violations that undermine its credibility. The petitioners have accused the agency of failing to examine potential technical faults in the Boeing 787-8 aircraft and of unfairly attributing blame to the pilot without conclusive evidence.

Rejecting suggestions that Captain Sabharwal’s mental health was a contributing factor, the plea highlights his 25-year professional record with over 15,600 flying hours, including 8,500 hours on Dreamliners. It argues that speculative narratives have damaged his reputation and deflected attention from possible mechanical or design flaws in the aircraft.

The AAIB’s preliminary report had stated that both engines lost fuel supply within a second of each other shortly after takeoff. Cockpit voice recordings reportedly captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut off, with the other denying any such action. Despite these findings, the AAIB cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, saying the investigation remains open.

Invoking Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, the petition calls for a formal judicial inquiry to ensure an independent, transparent, and credible examination of the crash.