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Aircraft accidents

Supreme Court Rejects PIL Seeking Independent Audit of Air India Safety Practices

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Supreme Court of India has declined to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an independent audit of Air India's safety practices and maintenance procedures in the wake of the June 2025 Ahmedabad plane crash, which killed 241 people. The court cautioned that singling out Air India could raise doubts about the petitioner's motives and create an impression of bias. The bench suggested that the petitioner could approach appropriate authorities with his suggestions instead of pursuing a PIL.

The crash occurred on June 12, 2025, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operated by Air India, crashed within minutes of takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 181 Indian nationals and 52 UK citizens, along with 19 people on the ground. The crash led to a major operational overhaul of Air India, which is now owned by the Tata Group. The petitioner, Narendra Kumar Goswami, had requested a comprehensive safety audit of Air India's entire fleet by an international aviation safety agency accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Key Takeaways:

  • The Supreme Court refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an independent audit of Air India's safety practices and maintenance procedures post-June 2025 Ahmedabad plane crash.
  • The bench cautioned against singling out Air India, suggesting that the petitioner's motives could be questioned, and it may create an impression of bias.
  • The court advised the petitioner to approach appropriate authorities with his suggestions instead of pursuing a PIL.
  • The crash claimed the lives of 181 Indian nationals, 52 UK citizens, and 19 people on the ground, with only one survivor.
  • The Tata Group has offered ex gratia compensation of Rs.1 crore for families of deceased passengers and Rs.25 lakh for families of ground victims.
  • Tata has established the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust with a total corpus of Rs.500 crore, funded by contributions from Tata Sons and Tata Trusts, to support the long-term needs of affected families.

Statistics:

  • 242 people were on board the ill-fated flight, including 181 Indian nationals, 52 UK citizens, and 9 others. Only one person survived.
  • The crash occurred on June 12, 2025.
  • The Tata Group has provided ex gratia compensation of Rs.1 crore to families of deceased passengers and Rs.25 lakh to families of ground victims.
  • The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust has a total corpus of Rs.500 crore, funded by contributions from Tata Sons and Tata Trusts.

Sources:

  • Supreme Court of India: The Supreme Court of India, Narendra Kumar Goswami v. Union of India & Ors. (W.P.(C) No. 1212 of 2025).
  • Hindustan Times: "Supreme Court rejects PIL seeking independent audit of Air India safety practices" (August 8, 2025).

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