A tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killed over 300 people. The disaster has sparked serious concerns over India’s aviation safety, training, and regulatory mechanisms.
Crash of Air India
- The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 “Dreamliner” shortly after take-off.
- Only one passenger survived; it marked the first total loss of this aircraft type globally.
- Experts cite technical, environmental, and procedural lapses as possible causes.
Regulatory and Safety Failures
- India’s aviation oversight bodies, like DGCA and AAI, are often run by generalist bureaucrats rather than aviation experts.
- Political interference and corruption often weaken safety audits and accident reviews.
- ICAO norms are violated, such as identifying crew publicly before inquiry completion.
Training & Operational Lapses
- The flight’s captain was a Line Training Officer—raising questions on co-pilot readiness.
- Mistakes like failure to retract landing gear indicate poor cockpit coordination.
- Decline in overall pilot training standards across airlines due to weak enforcement.
Suspected Causes of the Crash
- Likely bird hit caused engine damage or compressor stall.
- Possibility of foreign objects on the runway, like in the 2000 Concorde crash.
- CCTV showed landing gear unretracted, possibly indicating distraction or power loss.
Infrastructure & Zoning Issues
- The aircraft collided with a high-rise building, showing lack of enforcement on airport zoning.
- “No Objection Certificates” for nearby buildings are often cleared without proper safety checks.
Past Aviation Disasters in India
- Major crashes include: 1990 (Bangalore), 2000 (Patna), 2010 (Mangaluru), 2020 (Kozhikode).
- In all cases, systemic reforms were delayed or ignored.
Reforms & Corporate Response
- Tata Group, which owns Air India, has initiated the Vihaan.AI roadmap for transformation.
- Appointed a Head of Group Safety and launched internal quality initiatives.
- International teams are aiding crash investigation for transparency.
Conclusion
This incident highlights deep gaps in aviation safety, from poor training to regulatory oversight. Strengthening institutional accountability, ensuring expert leadership, and enforcing global safety norms are crucial to protect lives in India’s fast-growing aviation sector.
