(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Father’s Heartfelt Plea for Fair Probe into Air India Flight AI171 Crash
In a moving letter to India’s aviation authorities, 91-year-old Pushkaraj Sabharwal is fighting for justice for his late son, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. The father of the experienced pilot has demanded a thorough investigation into the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash that shocked the nation back in June.
The letter, dated August 29, went to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Pushkaraj accuses officials of leaking bits of information and fueling media rumors that have tarnished his son’s spotless reputation. "These leaks are hurting my health and my son’s legacy," he wrote, calling out the unfair blame game.
Remember the horror of Air India Flight AI171? This Boeing 787-8 took off from Ahmedabad headed to London Gatwick on June 12 but crashed moments later. The disaster claimed 241 lives—230 passengers, 12 crew members, and people on the ground. Shockingly, only one passenger survived the wreckage.
Pushkaraj isn’t holding back on the preliminary report released on July 12. He calls it flawed and biased, saying it dodges key facts about the Air India plane crash while giving a clean slate to Boeing and engine maker General Electric. "The report hints at blame without proof and clears the manufacturers too easily," his letter points out. It feels like they’re protecting big companies instead of getting to the truth.
What hurts him most? Media stories claiming Captain Sumeet was under mental stress and might have deliberately caused the crash. Some reports even dragged up his divorce 15 years ago and his mother’s death three years back. Pushkaraj slams these as "baseless and defamatory lies." His son was a pro with over 25 years in the skies, logging more than 15,600 flight hours— including 8,596 on the Boeing 787. Plus, he was a certified Line Training Captain by the DGCA. How could anyone question that?
Drawing from the Aircraft Rules of 2017, Pushkaraj wants a proper formal investigation under Rule 12. That means setting up a special court with experts, like a retired Supreme Court judge and aviation pros, to dig deep. He also pushes for pilots’ voices in the probe—maybe from the Air India pilots’ union (ALPA-India) or a family rep—to keep things fair.
He’s wary of letting Boeing reps sway the inquiry, pointing to past scandals like the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crashes. Back then, pilots took the heat at first, but later probes revealed software glitches. "We can’t repeat those mistakes in this Air India Flight AI171 investigation," he warns.
Pushkaraj has a clear demand: Stop the selective leaks to the media right away and issue a public statement that the preliminary report isn’t about pointing fingers. If authorities don’t act within seven days, he’ll head to court to protect his rights and ensure air travel safety for everyone.
This father’s stand highlights the need for transparency in aviation accidents. As the probe into the Air India crash continues, many hope it uncovers real answers without bias. (With inputs from )
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