India’s Supreme Court has ruled that the pilot of the Air India plane that crashed in June bears no responsibility for the tragic incident, which resulted in the deaths of 241 individuals, including 53 Britons. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged into a medical students’ hostel in Ahmedabad just 11 seconds after takeoff.
A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicated that the switches controlling fuel flow to the aircraft’s engines were turned off, which led to a loss of thrust. There has been speculation that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal might have been the one to turn off these switches. However, Justice Surya Kant, during a recent court hearing, firmly stated that “nobody” can be blamed for the crash, emphasizing that no evidence in the initial findings pointed to pilot error as the cause.
The pilot’s father, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, had called for an independent inquiry, expressing concern over suggestions that the pilot could be blamed. Justice Kant assured him that unfounded allegations against his son were “nasty” and that the narrative in foreign reports alleging pilot fault was not believed in India. The court acknowledged broader safety issues regarding Boeing aircraft globally and noted Air India’s own review found no fault with the fuel switches.
Pushkaraj Sabharwal raised concerns about the investigation’s impartiality, citing his son’s exemplary track record and mental fitness as a pilot. He pointed out that officials from the AAIB had hinted at the possibility of his son’s actions having caused the accident, despite a government statement asserting the investigation’s thoroughness.
In an investigation twist, Pushkaraj Sabharwal referred to the unexplained activation of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), which deployed during takeoff. He argued this could indicate an electrical malfunction rather than pilot error, further questioning the findings of the AAIB.
The only survivor of the crash, 39-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh from Leicester, has publicly shared the traumatic aftermath, stating that he struggles with constant flashbacks. This tragedy not only claimed lives but has left lasting emotional scars on survivors and families alike.
As the investigation continues, hope remains for a thorough and fair examination that honors the lives lost and addresses the concerns raised by the victims’ families.