The Supreme Court on Friday told the father of Air India’s late pilot-in-command, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, that his son could not be held responsible for the tragic Ahmedabad Dreamliner crash that killed 260 people in June. The court issued notices to the Centre, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), seeking a detailed explanation on the causes of the disaster.

Justice Surya Kant, hearing the petition filed by 91-year-old Pushkaraj Sabharwal, said, “This crash was extremely unfortunate, but you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed.”

Theories point to electrical malfunction

The AAIB’s preliminary report in July stated that fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after takeoff when the two fuel control switches were moved to “cutoff” position one after another. Though they were turned back on about ten seconds later, both engines had already flamed out, leading to the crash.

Aviation experts have since suggested that an electrical short circuit caused by water ingress might have triggered an automated system shutdown of the fuel supply, which left the aircraft with no time or altitude to recover once the engines restarted.

Multiple theories under scrutiny

One theory suggests possible manual action by a pilot, as the cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” and the reply, “I did not do so.” However, the US Federal Aviation Administration ruled out mechanical faults with Boeing’s fuel control units.

Another analysis by aviation expert Richard Godfrey indicated that “water ingress to the Aft E/E Bay” disrupted the digital link between the aircraft’s main computer and the engine controls, prompting an automatic idle shutdown as a protective measure.

The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged the government to inspect all Boeing 787 aircraft in India for potential electrical issues.

Call for transparency

With several international agencies involved in the investigation, experts emphasize the need for the AAIB to release a comprehensive and transparent final report soon. The Supreme Court’s remarks have reignited demands for an independent judicial inquiry into the cause of one of India’s most tragic aviation disasters.

Samajwadi Party veteran Azam Khan met party president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow on Friday, describing the meeting as a symbolic gesture of resilience and a call for justice and political change in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khan said, “The real intent of our meeting was to show that despite the oppression and historic injustice we faced, there still exist people whose endurance is stronger than stone or mountain.”

Accompanied by his son and former MLA Abdullah Azam, Khan noted that many of their supporters were still imprisoned. “When we meet, we remind each other of those painful times so that future generations remember that such injustice once took place,” he said.

Azam Khan recalls ‘injustice’ and misuse of agencies

Recently released after nearly two years in jail on multiple charges, including land grabbing and intimidation, Khan expressed gratitude to the media for what he termed a “change of perception.”

“Those who once misunderstood me now seem to realise that great injustice was done to us,” he remarked. He also recounted the Income Tax raids at his residence and Rampur’s Jauhar University, saying officials “used words that could make any decent person bow his head in shame.”

Khan urged for an end to the misuse of investigative agencies and said, “Until the political system improves and people understand what is truly happening, injustice will continue. But I sense change. Those who once opposed me now come to meet me, embrace me, and weep. That is a sign of transformation.”

Rejecting rumours that the Lucknow visit was linked to legal matters, Khan clarified, “There is no other reason. I came to meet Akhilesh Yadav and to send a message through you that we stand for change.”

A renewed bond within the Samajwadi Party

This meeting marks the second significant interaction between the two leaders in a month. On October 8, Akhilesh Yadav had visited Rampur, calling Khan a “strong pillar” of the Samajwadi Party and assuring that a future SP government would withdraw all false cases against him.

Azam Khan, a founding member of the Samajwadi Party and one of its senior-most leaders, has been a close aide of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav. Despite past speculation about a rift, Khan has consistently rejected any possibility of leaving the party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the people of Bihar for turning out in record numbers during the first phase of assembly elections, calling it a clear reflection of their faith in the BJP-led NDA government at both state and central levels. Speaking at a rally in Aurangabad, he highlighted the 64.66% voter turnout as the highest ever since Independence.

Bihar’s trust in double-engine growth, says PM

Addressing a massive gathering, PM Modi said, “People of Bihar have broken all records. Close to 65% of voting took place in the first phase. This shows that the youth, farmers, and women of Bihar are coming forward to bless the BJP-led NDA.”
He praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership for transforming the state and freeing regions like Aurangabad from years of Naxal violence. “This region was long afflicted with Maoist terror. After ‘Sushashan’ came under Nitish Kumar, the fear vanished, and people began to live freely again,” he added.

‘Fake promises’ warning to voters

The Prime Minister also cautioned voters against “fake promises” made by the opposition Mahagathbandhan, remarking that their return would mean “the comeback of katta sarkar.” He reminded the crowd of the BJP government’s record in fulfilling promises—from the construction of the Ram Mandir and abrogation of Article 370 to implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the armed forces.
PM Modi also referred to his past vow to avenge terror attacks, stating, “Didn’t our forces punish the perpetrators of Pahalgam attacks? Didn’t they retaliate against their wicked designs?”