PIL in Supreme Court seeks fresh stringent guidelines for domestic, international flights

New Delhi: A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre and other authorities to formulate and notify, within four weeks fresh mandatory guidelines for Air India and other airlines’ scheduled international and domestic operations.

It sought an order for prescribing stringent and periodic functional checks of all cabin equipment, engines, airframes and ancillary systems, consistent with best international standards.

Following the recent crash of Air India flight to London in Ahemdabad, the plea by an advocate, Ajay Bansal also sought directions to the DGCA to conduct unannounced audits of entire fleet of Air India and other airlines operating in India, with public disclosure of findings and imposition of immediate corrective measures or penalties for non-compliance.

The petitioner stated that the plea has been filed to secure the fundamental right to life and personal liberty (Article 21 of the Constitution) of air travelers, and to enforce the mandatory regulatory framework under the Aircraft Act, 1934 and Aircraft Rules, 1937, as well as relevant Civil Aviation Requirements.

He raised the issue of "systemic failures"in maintenance, functionality and passenger services on Air India flights, as evidenced by the tragic recent Ahmedabad-London crash, and the petitioner’s own business class journey on May 20, 2025, where seats, in-flight entertainment and air-conditioning were non functional.

The petitioner’s documented grievances and the respondent-carrier’s inadequate redress demonstrated an urgent need for stricter guidelines, enforcement and, where necessary, grounding of unfit aircraft is required as an urgent measure to stop check further escalation of such incidents, the plea said.

On June 12, 2025, a Boeing 777 of Air India operating Ahmedabad–London flight suffered a catastrophic crash, killing 241 persons on board. Preliminary reports indicated multiple maintenance lapses. Media reports and social-media videos highlighted chronic non-functionality of cabin equipment and engineering delays, the plea contended.

The petitioner sought a direction for stringent security and scientific checks of all planes operating in India and immediate grounding of all Air India and all other aircrafts found not fully functional or lacking prescribed facilities for international passenger service until all defects are rectified and airworthiness recertified.

The petitioner also sought a direction to suspend operation of boeing aircraft of Air India, pending a safety audit within two weeks, in view of the recent crash and reported maintenance backlogs.