The Supreme Court has been approached with a plea that could potentially change how aviation disasters are investigated in India. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed demanding an independent, court-monitored probe into the Air India Express plane crash that shook the country. Petitioners allege that previous inquiries were either half-hearted or compromised, leaving families of victims still searching for closure.
The Background
The tragic incident involved an Air India Express aircraft that skidded off the runway and broke into pieces while landing during heavy rain. The crash killed dozens, including both passengers and crew, and left many survivors with lasting injuries. For families, the pain wasn’t just losing loved ones—it was the unanswered questions.
Government authorities had set up committees to look into the causes. While some technical reports cited adverse weather and pilot error, the PIL claims that these findings failed to address systemic lapses in airport infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and airline preparedness.
One of the petitioners was quoted as saying, “We don’t just want to blame one individual. We want to know why safety warnings were ignored and why accountability stops with a few technical points.”
The PIL and Its Demands
The PIL calls for:
- A court-monitored probe headed by an independent panel rather than relying on government-appointed committees.
- Transparency in investigation, including public access to findings and safety recommendations.
- Compensation and accountability, not only for the victims but also measures to ensure such disasters are not repeated.
The petitioners argue that aviation accidents cannot be brushed off as isolated mishaps. They highlight how India, despite its growing aviation sector, often lags behind in implementing safety reforms flagged by international agencies.
Why an Independent Probe Matters
The plea rests on the belief that independent oversight ensures credibility. Critics point out that when regulatory bodies investigate their own lapses, there is an inherent conflict of interest. A court-monitored probe, they argue, would restore faith among grieving families and the wider public.
A senior advocate associated with aviation cases commented, “India’s aviation industry has expanded rapidly, but crash investigations are rarely conclusive. If the highest court steps in, it could set a precedent for transparency in disaster probes.”
The Larger Question of Aviation Safety
This case is not just about one crash. It touches on the larger issue of aviation safety in India, where smaller airports and regional carriers are expanding rapidly. Pilots’ associations have in the past flagged concerns about runway safety, outdated equipment, and inadequate training for handling emergencies.
The PIL, therefore, becomes more than a fight for justice—it becomes a litmus test of how seriously India treats passenger safety.
What Lies Ahead
The Supreme Court is yet to decide whether it will admit the PIL for a detailed hearing. If admitted, it could open the doors for one of the most transparent inquiries into an aviation disaster in India. For now, families wait anxiously, hoping that their voices will finally be heard.
Should the Court intervene, it could set a landmark precedent—not just in aviation but in how disasters across industries are probed in the future.
As one relative of a victim put it bluntly, “We lost lives. At the very least, the country should not lose the truth.”