SC calls selective release of AI crash report ‘irresponsible’

The Supreme Court on Monday termed as “unfortunate and irresponsible” the selective publication of a preliminary report on the June 12 Air India crash, which outlined lapses on the part of pilots and paved the way for a “media narrative”.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, which issued notices to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the aspect of an independent, fair and expeditious probe of the crash, said an element of privacy and dignity of families of victims was also



involved.

It took note of certain aspects of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report issued on July 12 and said “piecemeal and selective” publication of the findings, which led to building of a media narrative, was “unfortunate and irresponsible”. 

“There should be complete confidentiality of reports of this nature till the inquiry is complete. There is an element of privacy and dignity of the victims involved. That’s why we should wait for the final report,” the bench observed.