NEW DELHI: In a PIL seeking an independent, fair and transparent inquiry into the Air India crash at Ahmedabad on June 12, advocate Prashant Bhushan quoted Federation of Indian Pilots Association to tell Supreme Court on Thursday that every person flying in Boeing-787 planes, the make of the ill-fated aircraft, runs a grave risk.This remark before a bench of CJI-designate Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi drew immediate protest from solicitor general (SG) Tushar Mehta, who informed the court that the strict regime laid down by Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to investigate air crashes is being scrupulously adhered to in the probe into the Ahmedabad crash.He said it was important that no one attempts to trigger a general panic, and that govt was trying to ascertain the cause/s behind the crash to ensure necessary steps are taken for passenger safety. Responding to Bhushan’s remarks, the bench said, “Let us not create an impression that it (hearing on the PILs) is becoming a fight between airlines.”The bench asked the civil aviation ministry to file its response to the PIL. Mehta said that contrary to claims of the petitioners through Bhushan, no blame has been placed on the pilots of the ill-fated plane. Justice Bagchi said, “AAIB probe is to find out the causes behind the air crash and not to apportion blame on anyone.” The bench refused to entertain a PIL by a student, advising him to concentrate on his studies instead.
