Air India Crash | AAIB Opposes Need For Supreme Court-Monitored Investigation, Says Its Probe As Per International Treaty New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that there is no requirement for a court-monitored investigation into the recent Air India plane crash, stating that its ongoing inquiry is being conducted strictly in accordance with internationally accepted aviation investigation standards. In its submission before the Court, the AAIB stated that the investigation is being carried out under the framework of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and the standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Bureau emphasized that these international protocols ensure that aircraft accident investigations remain independent, objective, and focused solely on identifying the causes of accidents to improve aviation safety. The AAIB argued that it is the statutory authority designated to investigate civil aviation accidents in India and possesses the necessary technical expertise and legal mandate to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry. According to the Bureau, introducing judicial monitoring at this stage would be unnecessary and inconsistent with the internationally recognized system governing aircraft accident investigations. The Bureau further submitted that accident investigations are not intended to determine criminal or civil liability but to identify the sequence of events, contributing factors, and safety deficiencies so that similar incidents can be prevented in the future. It maintained that the investigation is being conducted transparently and in coordination with relevant domestic and international agencies, wherever required. During the hearing, the Supreme Court took note of the AAIB's submissions. The matter arose from a plea seeking a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the Air India crash, citing concerns over transparency and accountability. The AAIB, however, maintained that the existing legal framework and international treaty obligations already provide adequate safeguards to ensure an independent and credible investigation. The case is expected to be heard further, with the Supreme Court considering the submissions of all parties before deciding whether any additional directions are necessary. Meanwhile, the AAIB's technical investigation into the Air India crash will continue in accordance with the provisions of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules and applicable international aviation standards.
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Supreme Court
Air India Crash | AAIB Opposes Need For Supreme Court-Monitored Investigation, Says Its Probe As Per International Treaty
📅 15 July 2026
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that there is no need for a court-monitored investigation into the Air India plane crash. The Bureau submitted that its inquiry is being conducted strictly in accordance with the Chicago Convention and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, which govern aircraft accident investigations worldwide. AAIB argued that it is an independent statutory authority responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and that its ongoing probe is impartial, transparent, and compliant with internationally accepted procedures. The Bureau maintained that judicial monitoring at this stage is unnecessary and could undermine the established legal framework for aviation accident investigations. The Supreme Court will consider the submissions while hearing the matter further.
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