“Piecemeal and selective publication of findings, which leads to building a media narrative, is unfortunate and irresponsible,” the bench said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Safety Matters Foundation, argued that a single line in the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report blaming pilots shaped international media narratives. Bhushan maintained that the release of complete data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder would clarify the cause. However, the bench cautioned that releasing information piecemeal could fuel speculation and even be misused by rival airlines. It criticised the preliminary report for prematurely attributing the accident to pilot error while withholding critical data, and for downplaying systemic anomalies, including possible fuel-switch defects and electrical disturbances.