National Times Bureau :- The Supreme Court on Monday criticised the way pilots were blamed in the preliminary report on the Air India plane crash. The court said it was “irresponsible” to point fingers at pilots before the final investigation report is ready.

Hearing a PIL that sought an independent, court-monitored probe, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notices to the Centre and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The court stressed that confidentiality must be maintained until the inquiry is complete.

The judges observed that blaming pilots too early can cause unnecessary suffering to their families. “If later the final report shows no fault, what happens then?” the bench asked.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing NGO Safety Matters Foundation, told the court that a report in the US-based Wall Street Journal had raised concerns about conflict of interest. The probe panel included three members from the aviation regulator itself.

Bhushan also said that after the government released the report, many called the crash a case of “pilot error.” He noted that even media stories suggested one of the pilots was suicidal and had switched off the fuel supply—claims he said were unfair against such experienced pilots.

Justice Surya Kant called these media reports “very irresponsible.” The bench further remarked that such tragedies are sometimes misused by rival aircraft companies.

The Supreme Court has now asked the DGCA and the Civil Aviation Ministry to respond, ensuring the probe remains transparent, fair, and fast.