New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the Air India Ahmedabad crash is being investigated by Indian authorities as per the order set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that the victims of the accident also include foreign nationals. Mehta added that this requires the investigation to be handled as per the international system, which is followed in air accidents.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court, after hearing the Centre's oral submissions, asked the petitioners, the father of deceased Captain Sumit Sabharwal, and an NGO, Safety Matters Foundation, to file their counter-applications in response to the Centre's submissions in this regard.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had sought the Centre's response on petitions filed by petitioners seeking an independent, court-monitored inquiry into the Air India Ahmedabad crash that claimed 260 lives. During the hearing, the Supreme Court also clarified that the preliminary report of the Air Accident Investigation Bureau of India has nothing to do with assigning responsibility or blame in relation to the tragic accident.