The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal challenging a Delhi High Court order that had rejected a petition seeking disclosure of the exact timing when a fuel switch was moved from “run” to “cut-off” on a London-bound Air India aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad last year. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioned the intent behind the plea, asking, “What is the deep-rooted agenda? As if we don't know why all this is filed. The families of the deceased are not coming here, but you are here,” before dismissing the appeal.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had been filed by Suresh Chand Shrivastava, a mechanical engineer from IIT Delhi, who sought directions for the disclosure of the precise moment the fuel switch transitioned, arguing that it could help verify whether a possible engine surge contributed to the failure of both engines. The petitioner also contended that the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) should include a “complete sequence of events” leading to the crash.

Earlier, on February 25, 2026, the Delhi High Court had dismissed the plea, noting that such a specific technical disclosure could not be ordered by the judiciary. The court advised the petitioner to pursue information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, if permissible, and emphasized that technical matters are best left to experts in the field. “It is a well-settled principle of law that the field where experts operate should ordinarily be left to them,” the bench said, rejecting the argument that courts could reinterpret expert reports even if gaps appeared evident.

Also Read: DGCA Takes Action Against Air India for Operational Lapse in Vancouver-Bound Flight

During Wednesday’s hearing, the Supreme Court also noted that the investigation into the crash was still ongoing and that only a preliminary report had been released. The bench observed that the petitioner had already made representations to the authorities, which would be duly considered in due course.

The Air India crash, one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent history, occurred on June 12, 2025. A Boeing 787-8 operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all 260 people on board, including 241 passengers. The tragedy prompted widespread scrutiny of airline safety protocols and operational procedures.

Authorities continue to investigate the precise sequence of events leading to the crash, with technical and forensic teams examining flight data, engine performance, and operational records. While the Supreme Court’s ruling closes the legal challenge, the formal investigation by the AAIB is expected to provide a comprehensive analysis once completed.

Also Read: Seven Hours to Nowhere: London-Bound Air India Flight Forced Back to Delhi