India’s Supreme Court will hear a plea on November 10 by the father of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, seeking a judicial probe into the June 2025 Air India crash. The court clarified that the preliminary AAIB report does not implicate the pilot, affirming procedural neutrality.
India’s apex court has scheduled a hearing on November 10, 2025, to consider a writ petition filed by Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who perished in the June 12 Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad. The plea, supported by the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), calls for a judicially monitored inquiry panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and supported by independent aviation experts.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had released a preliminary report, which the Supreme Court noted does not insinuate any fault or negligence on the part of the pilot. The petitioner has also requested that the AAIB’s findings be set aside and all evidence be transferred to an independent panel to ensure transparency and credibility.
The crash claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers, and has raised serious questions about air safety protocols, technical oversight, and investigative independence.
Important Points:
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Hearing Date: November 10, 2025
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Petitioner: Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal
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Crash Details: Air India Flight AI171, June 12, 2025, Ahmedabad; 260 fatalities
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Court Observation: AAIB report does not implicate pilot
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Relief Sought: Judicial probe, closure of AAIB report, independent panel formation
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Support: Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP)
The Supreme Court’s intervention may redefine aviation accountability and investigative transparency in India.
Sources: India Today, News18, New Indian Express