Supreme Court Deems 'Fuel Cut-Off' Remark in Air India Crash Report 'Unfortunate

Introduction:
The Supreme Court of India expressed strong displeasure on September 22, 2025, labeling the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) mention of a pilot's "fuel cut-off" in the preliminary report on the fatal Air India Flight 171 crash as "very unfortunate." A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh, hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by aviation safety NGO Safety Matters Foundation, issued notices to the Centre, AAIB, and Air India, seeking responses on the probe's transparency. The PIL contends the July 12 report violates the Aircraft Accident Investigation Rules, 2017, by withholding critical data like the full Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript and Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) output, while prematurely suggesting pilot error.

The Ahmedabad crash on June 12, 2025, claimed 260 lives—241 on board and 19 on the ground—when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plummeted shortly after takeoff, with fuel switches flipping to "cut-off" three seconds airborne, starving engines. The CVR captured confusion: One pilot asking, "Why did you cut off?" the other replying, "I didn't." Why does this matter? The court's intervention addresses families' anguish and public speculation, with experienced pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (15,000+ hours) and First Officer Clive Kunder (3,400 hours) under scrutiny. As of September 23, 2025, 10:00 AM IST, the ruling underscores the need for a fair, comprehensive inquiry into systemic issues like fuel-switch defects and maintenance, potentially reshaping aviation safety protocols. This article details the hearing, report controversies, PIL demands, historical context, stats, expert views, and implications.

The Supreme Court Hearing: PIL and Court Remarks

Safety Matters Foundation's PIL, filed September 19, 2025, challenges the AAIB's preliminary report for incomplete disclosure, violating citizens' rights under Articles 14 (equality), 19(1)(a) (free speech), and 21 (life). Petitioner Amit Singh, a former pilot, argued the report's "fuel cut-off" narrative—based on a single CVR remark—prejudges error, ignoring faults like electronic control unit issues or 2018 FAA bulletins on switch locking mechanisms.

The bench termed the mention "irresponsible" and "very unfortunate," noting it fueled media speculation before the full probe. "Speculation has triumphed over transparency," the court observed, directing disclosure of DFDR, full CVR transcript, fault messages, and maintenance records. Notices seek responses within two weeks, with the next hearing in October.

AAIB Report Controversies: Fuel Switches and Pilot Confusion

The July 12, 2025, preliminary report, released under Rule 11 of the 2017 Investigation Rules, identified the fuel switches moving to "cut-off" three seconds after takeoff, causing engine shutdown. CVR captured: "Why did you cut off?" "I didn't." The report neither confirmed deliberate action nor mechanical failure but noted the pilots' 19,000 combined hours and rest compliance.

Critics, including the PIL, argue it withholds data like DFDR outputs and 2018 FAA bulletins on switch defects, prematurely implying error and tarnishing reputations. Families like Inayat Syed's, who lost four, decry it as "product description" lacking causes. Air India and Boeing maintain silence, citing the active probe.

PIL Demands: Full Disclosure and Independent Probe

The PIL seeks:

• Court-monitored independent investigation.
• Disclosure of DFDR, full CVR with timestamps, fault messages, maintenance history.
• Scrutiny of systemic anomalies like fuel-switch defects.

It invokes the 2017 Rules mandating public factual data in preliminaries.

Historical Context: Air India Crashes and Probes

The June 12 crash, killing 260, is Air India's deadliest since 1985's Flight 182 (329 dead). Past probes, like 2020 Kozhikode's pilot error focus, faced similar transparency demands. The 2017 Rules aim for safety lessons, but partial reports often spark controversy.

Statistics: Crash Toll and Probe Timeline

• Deaths: 260 (241 onboard, 19 ground).
• Survivors: 1 (co-pilot Clive Kunder).
• Timeline: Crash June 12; report July 12; PIL September 19; hearing September 22.

Milestone	Date
Crash	June 12, 2025
Preliminary Report	July 12, 2025
PIL Filed	September 19, 2025
SC Hearing	September 22, 2025

Expert Opinions

ALPA India's Sam Thomas: "Speculation over transparency; review maintenance." Peter Goelz (ex-NTSB): "Disturbing fuel switch finding; need full CVR." On X, #AirIndiaCrash (100k posts): 70% demand full probe.

Potential Impacts

The SC's push for disclosure could delay the final report (due December 2025), enhancing safety but straining AAIB resources. Families gain closure; aviation firms face scrutiny on Boeing 787 maintenance.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's "unfortunate" remark on the Air India crash report's fuel cut-off mention, issued September 22, 2025, demands transparency in the June 12 tragedy probe. With notices to the Centre, it prioritizes facts over speculation. Updates at nuvexic.com.

FAQ

SC's remark?
"Very unfortunate" on pilot fuel cut-off mention.

PIL by?
Safety Matters Foundation.

Deaths?
260.

Report date?
July 12, 2025.

Pilots' experience?
19,000+ hours combined.

Next hearing?
October 2025.