AI-171 crash probe: Pilots’ body serves legal notice to AAIB over summons of deceased captain’s relative

Pilots’ body alleges violation of ICAO norms, warns against “pre-decided narrative” shifting blame to deceased crew

• The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has sent a legal notice to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) objecting to the summoning of Captain Varun Anand in the probe into the June 2025 Air India flight AI-171 crash, calling the move unlawful and contrary to international aviation investigation norms.
• The notice escalates tensions in one of India’s most closely watched aviation investigations, with the pilots’ body alleging that investigators may be pursuing a narrative that shifts responsibility onto the deceased flight crew.
• What triggered the legal notice
• According to NDTV, Air India informed Captain Varun Anand that the AAIB had summoned him in connection with the AI-171 crash that killed all crew members and 229 passengers shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in June 2025.
• The FIP objected, stating that Anand has no professional or operational link to the ill-fated flight and was summoned solely because he is related to Captain Sumit Sabharwal, the pilot in command of the aircraft.
• FIP’s core objection
• In its legal notice, the FIP said the AAIB failed to specify the legal basis for summoning Anand or clarify the capacity in which he was being called.
• “Captain Varun Anand is neither a factual witness nor a technical witness, nor is he an expert witness in relation to the said accident,” the federation said, as cited by NDTV Profit.
• The pilots’ body added that Anand was not involved in flight planning, was not present at the crash site, and had no professional connection with flight AI-171.
• ICAO rules and legality
• The federation cited provisions under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization, arguing that summoning family members of deceased pilots during an accident investigation is unlawful and runs counter to globally accepted norms.
• According to the FIP, ICAO investigations are designed to improve aviation safety and prevent future accidents, not to apportion blame or pursue personal associations.
• The organisation warned that calling relatives risks undermining the credibility of the investigation and could deter candid cooperation in future probes.
• Willingness to cooperate
• Despite the objection, the FIP said Captain Anand remains willing to cooperate with investigators and is available to appear via video conferencing.
• The federation said this offer was made in good faith, even as it contests the legality and intent behind the summons.

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The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has sent a legal notice to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) objecting to the summoning of Captain Varun Anand in the probe into the June 2025 Air India flight AI-171 crash, calling the move unlawful and contrary to international aviation investigation norms.

The notice escalates tensions in one of India’s most closely watched aviation investigations, with the pilots’ body alleging that investigators may be pursuing a narrative that shifts responsibility onto the deceased flight crew.

What triggered the legal notice

According to NDTV, Air India informed Captain Varun Anand that the AAIB had summoned him in connection with the AI-171 crash that killed all crew members and 229 passengers shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in June 2025.

The FIP objected, stating that Anand has no professional or operational link to the ill-fated flight and was summoned solely because he is related to Captain Sumit Sabharwal, the pilot in command of the aircraft.

FIP’s core objection

In its legal notice, the FIP said the AAIB failed to specify the legal basis for summoning Anand or clarify the capacity in which he was being called.

“Captain Varun Anand is neither a factual witness nor a technical witness, nor is he an expert witness in relation to the said accident,” the federation said, as cited by NDTV Profit.

The pilots’ body added that Anand was not involved in flight planning, was not present at the crash site, and had no professional connection with flight AI-171.

ICAO rules and legality

The federation cited provisions under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization, arguing that summoning family members of deceased pilots during an accident investigation is unlawful and runs counter to globally accepted norms.

According to the FIP, ICAO investigations are designed to improve aviation safety and prevent future accidents, not to apportion blame or pursue personal associations.

The organisation warned that calling relatives risks undermining the credibility of the investigation and could deter candid cooperation in future probes.

Willingness to cooperate

Despite the objection, the FIP said Captain Anand remains willing to cooperate with investigators and is available to appear via video conferencing.

The federation said this offer was made in good faith, even as it contests the legality and intent behind the summons.