In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed the lives of 270 people, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking suspension of Air India’s Boeing fleet until full safety clearance is ensured.
The PIL filed by advocate Ajay Bansal has alleged serious non-compliance of key aviation safety laws including the Aircraft Act, 1934, the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and guidelines under civil aviation requirements. The petition has urged the court to make surprise safety audits mandatory for the entire Air India fleet and other commercial airlines operating in India.
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"Air India's service and safety failures endanger the lives and comfort of passengers, violate DGCA safety audits and breach statutory duties under Sections 5 and 7 of the Aircraft Act, 1934," the petition said.
The petition emphasised that the results of such audits should be made public and strict penalties should be imposed on airlines violating safety norms. It also sought guidelines for regular safety checks on critical aircraft components such as engines, airframe and cabin systems.
Citing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) inspection report, the PIL accused Air India of falsifying internal safety audit records, which reflects an alarming trend of negligence in flight safety procedures.
Advocate Bansal also shared a personal experience during an Air India business class flight from Delhi to Chicago on May 20. He said the seats did not recline properly, the entertainment system was not working and the air conditioning was ineffective. Despite filing a formal complaint, the airline reportedly offered only Rs 10,000 as compensation.
The petition states, "The accident involving an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is not an isolated tragedy but is a result of chronic neglect, regulatory laxity and an airline culture prioritising operational convenience over safety."
The petition draws attention to social media complaints showing recurrent technical glitches and similar problems in Air India aircraft, warning that the Ahmedabad incident reflects a larger pattern.
In a related development, two doctors have written a letter to the Chief Justice of India urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance of the Ahmedabad accident. The letter requested immediate compensation for the families of the victims and a thorough investigation into the incident to ascertain the real cause of the accident.'
