New Delhi – Months after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of 260 people, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the 91-year-old father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, has demanded a formal investigation by the central government. In a letter to the Civil Aviation Secretary and the Director General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), he has alleged that selective leaks from the ongoing probe have created a narrative that has “tarnished” his son’s reputation.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating a flight to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. According to a preliminary report by the AAIB, the fuel supply to both engines was cut off within a second of each other, an action that led to the catastrophic loss of thrust.
Pushkaraj Sabharwal’s letter, dated August 29, states that “selective leaks about the accident have led to speculation that Sumeet (56) was under tremendous psychological pressure and therefore was contemplating committing suicide.” He argues that these “innuendos” have adversely affected his own health and the reputation of his deceased son, a right he says is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
In his letter, Sabharwal refutes the speculations regarding his son’s mental health. He points out that while some reports have linked the crash to his son’s divorce, that event took place 15 years ago. He also dismissed the theory that his son’s depression stemmed from his mother’s death, noting that she had passed away more than three years ago and that Captain Sabharwal had successfully operated over 100 flights since then without incident. He emphasized that in his 25-year-long career, Captain Sabharwal, who had a flying experience of nearly 15,638 hours, including 8,596 on the Boeing 787-8, had not been involved in any previous accidents or incidents.
Sabharwal has called for a formal inquiry under Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. This rule allows the central government to initiate an investigation if it is “expedient to hold such a probe.”
In response to the letter, officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that they are committed to a “free, fair, and holistic probe” and have maintained an “entire arm’s-length distance from the probe team.” They also stressed that all necessary resources have been provided to ensure the investigation adheres to international protocols. The AAIB’s preliminary report, published on July 12, had previously stated that it was too early to draw any “definite conclusions” and that the final report would identify the root causes of the accident.