India’s Supreme Court has absolved the pilot of the ill-fated Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad, western India, killing all but one person on board. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 241 individuals, including 52 British nationals. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor, described himself as incredibly fortunate but continues to grapple with physical and mental challenges post the crash.
The court reassured the father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was in control of Flight AI-171 when it tragically collided with a medical students’ hostel, that his son bore no responsibility for the catastrophe. Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that the official report did not attribute any blame to the pilot.
Captain Sabharwal, who was commended for skillfully diverting the plane away from the hostel and landing in a grassy area to minimize casualties, was also the primary caregiver for his elderly father. Before the flight, he had promised his father that he would retire soon to take care of him full-time upon his return from London.
The court criticized a Wall Street Journal article that unfairly targeted Sabharwal, calling it biased and aimed at defaming India. In response to a petition filed by Sabharwal’s father, the court demanded explanations from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the central government.
The petition requests an impartial judicial investigation and the termination of the ongoing inquiry by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, claiming it is incomplete and biased. It argues that the failure to determine the true cause of the crash endangers future passengers and violates constitutional rights.
Preliminary findings by the AAIB indicated that both fuel switches supplying the aircraft’s engines were unexpectedly turned off shortly after reaching top speed, leading to the shutdown of Engine 1 and Engine 2, resulting in the fatal descent. The flight was under the command of Captain Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to revisit the case on November 10, along with other related petitions.