In brief
The Supreme Court of India has deemed the handling of the devastating Air India crash that killed 261 individuals as 'irresponsible'. The court condemned the aviation authority for suggesting pilot error and criticized the release of a preliminary report as misleading. The case has raised serious concerns over India's aviation safety, with families of victims pursuing legal action against Boeing and Honeywell.
The highest court in India has strongly criticised the country's aviation authorities for their handling of the aftermath of the Air India plane crash that killed 261 people in June.
Leaving only one survivor, the flight bound for Gatwick airport from Ahmedabad crashed shortly after taking off, killing 242 passengers on board and 19 others on the ground.
The court said it was irresponsible for the aviation authority to suggest through leaks to the media that pilot error had caused the disaster.
It called on Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for the government's response before it rules on a case filed by activists demanding an independent investigation.
The court said the way the aviation body released its preliminary report into the Boeing Dreamliner's crash was selective and piecemeal.
The report, published on 12 July, stated that just seconds after take-off, fuel supply to the engines was cut off.
One of the pilots was heard asking the other why did he cut off in a cockpit voice recording, while the other responded that he did not do so.
The recording doesn't clarify who said what. At the time of take-off, the co-pilot was flying the aircraft while the captain was monitoring.
One of India's Supreme Court judges highlighted that suggestions that the pilots deliberately shut off fuel supply were very unfortunate and irresponsible.
The crash has raised serious questions regarding the safety of India's airspace.
The chief of India's aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), defended the safety record of the country, stating, India's skies have always been safe.
In July, the DGCA uncovered 51 safety violations at Air India, as part of its annual audit of the country's airlines.
Additionally, the families of four passengers who perished on the plane filed a lawsuit in the US against aircraft maker Boeing and parts manufacturer Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence.
The lawsuit alleged that these companies took no action despite being aware of risks associated with the aircraft's design.
