Overview
- The division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia called the PIL "highly misconceived" and refused to "read down" the AAIB’s preliminary findings.
- The petitioner, engineer Suresh Chand Shrivastava, sought exact timings for fuel cut-off and engine flame-outs and urged publication of a complete event timeline.
- The court said such disclosures cannot be compelled by writ and should be pursued through the Right to Information process with the competent authorities.
- The AAIB’s preliminary report, prepared by technical experts, states both engine fuel control switches moved to CUTOFF within about one second shortly after takeoff.
- The broader probe continues with international participation, and the Supreme Court has asked the Union government and DGCA to place the AAIB/DGCA procedural protocol on record.