Air India crash 'could have killed thousands' — why faulty planes are not India's only problem

Bhavesh Patni had just sat down with his family for a lunch of eggplant and potato curry when an
Air India
plane took off from the runway behind their home in the city of Ahmedabad, flew over their heads and crashed into a medical college campus visible from their building.
As Patni climbed up to his terrace to watch the flames from a disaster that would ultimately kill 241 people on the plane and at least 34 on the ground, he shuddered as he thought about his family's proximity to the nightmare below them.
In Ahmedabad, as in cities across this country of 1.4 billion people, there is little buffer between the increasingly busy airport and the densely populated neighborhoods that encircle it. That puts residents in the danger zone if anything goes wrong during takeoffs and landings, the time when most aviation accidents occur.
This reality illustrates a pressing challenge for India. The country's growing wealth has given it the means to be more on the move. Air passenger traffic has doubled over the past decade, as has the number of operational airports. But India's expanding aviation ambitions have been superimposed on existing urban infrastructures that are already pushed to the limit by the rapid growth of cities.
"It was only by God's grace that we survived," Patni, a cargo handler at the Ahmedabad airport, said days after last week's crash. As he spoke, rescue workers were still retrieving human remains from the wreckage, and cranes were trying to dislodge the aircraft's tail from the medical college building's roof.
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Around the world, major airports are increasingly situated far from city centers, in part because such land is cheaper and expansion is easier, and in part to mitigate the health risks of noise and air pollution and the possible dangers of air accidents.
But the airports in India's biggest cities are some of the most "enclosed" in the world, according to a 2022 study by researchers in Belgium. Mumbai's airport topped the study's rankings, and the airports in Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Delhi were among the top 25.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has particularly promoted the growth of air connectivity across the immense country. India, which has doubled the number of its international and domestic airports to over 150 in the past decade, says it plans to increase the number to 350 in the next two decades. With more than 1 million flights and 175 million passengers last year, India was the third-largest air transport market, after the United States and China.
The country's expanding economy has finally brought in the kind of resources that could lift up its long-neglected infrastructure. Modi's critics say he has pushed a model of development that prioritizes quick results at the cost of careful planning and execution.
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They point to roads and bridges that collapse soon after completion, and to the flouting of basic safety standards. India does not have enough airport officials who understand the minute details that are crucial to ensuring safety, said Yeshwanth Shenoy, a public interest lawyer and activist who has been going to court to try to improve
airport safety
for more than a decade.
A parliamentary report earlier this year said that there was serious staffing shortage in official bodies that enforce aviation safety standards, including a vacancy rate of more than 50% in the civil aviation authority.
In Mumbai, where the international airport accounts for a quarter of India's air traffic, there are more than 1,000 buildings that violate safety standards meant to prevent the obstruction of flight paths, Shenoy said.
City authorities admitted in court that hundreds of buildings were obstructions. But since the first demolition orders were given in 2016, only a handful have come down. And hundreds more have been built, Shenoy said.
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In the Ahmedabad crash, there has been no indication that buildings were in the way. The plane appeared to have failed to gain sufficient lift after takeoff, and went into a steady descent before crashing less than a mile from the runway. There has also not been any sign of a bird strike, a problem that the airport has struggled with for years.
But it has long been clear that there is little cushion around the airport, with packed clusters of modest homes, shops and hotels pressing up against its gates.
"If the airplane had crashed 500 meters earlier, thousands could have died," said Himmatsingh Patel, a former mayor of Ahmedabad, which is the largest city in the western state of Gujarat.
Ahmedabad was a very different place when its airport was built in the 1930s. It stood a safe distance of about 10 miles from the old city, Patel said.
Patel, 64, said he remembered joining his family as a child on picnics at the edge of the airport, to watch takeoffs and landings.
Ahmedabad became an international airport in the 1990s. The city's population had grown along with it; today an estimated 8 million live there, more than double the number two decades ago.
One study found that a tenth of the population was affected by loud noise from air traffic. Many in the neighborhoods around the airport said such noise was routine.
As the airport grew busier, these neighborhoods -- where amenities like grain markets and medicine shops sprang up -- became highly sought after for jobs.
Vikram Sinh, 60, who lives in a government-owned apartment there and runs a grocery store, was able to put two of his children through medical school with his earnings. Both are now doctors in Canada.
"This is a golden area in all of Gujarat," he said. "I do not feel like leaving this place."
The airport currently has over 13 million passengers a year. Its operations were handed over in 2020 to
Adani Airport
Holdings, part of the empire of Gautam Adani, a billionaire ally of Modi's. The company signed a 50-year deal with the government.
As it has laid out its plans for the airport's future, Adani Holdings has described it as "one of the most land-constrained airports in India." Yet the company aims to expand the airport's passenger capacity to 18 million annually by next year and to 40 million by 2040.
Patel, who is a member of the opposition Congress party, said the expansion of the existing airport in the middle of Ahmedabad when open land outside the densely-populated city was plenty spoke to a lack of long term planning.
"We do patchwork development," he said, "not the kind that looks ahead to the next 25 years."
Dharmendra Shah, a leader of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat, acknowledged the scarcity of available land inside the city. He said authorities would study what caused the crash, but also he stood by the city's plans.
"According to me," he said, "the development model of the city is just fine, including the airport's."

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Indian Express

an hour ago

• Indian Express

Anxiety in the skies: Pilots, cabin crew open up about mental health struggles after Ahmedabad plane crash; say ‘every call from family asking if we're alive just adds to the burden'

In the wake of the Air India flight AI171 crash on June 12 that claimed over 270 lives, murmurs within the aviation community have grown louder. Anxiety around flying isn't just affecting passengers – it's weighing heavily on those in the cockpit and cabin too. Unconfirmed reports suggested that a pilot scheduled to operate the Delhi-Copenhagen flight on June 14 experienced a panic attack and stepped down, with another pilot stepping in to ensure the flight landed safely. The incident, though not officially verified, raises serious questions about the psychological impact of such tragedies on aviation professionals. 'I was flying the plane the same day as the crash, the next, and even the day after,' a pilot from the Air India Group told on condition of anonymity. 'It could have been me, or any of us. Yes, we feel stressed and anxious. Every call from family asking if we're alive, every time we fly, just adds to the burden. Our families are traumatised. Still, we have to do what needs to be done, and have to fly,' the pilot said. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced a peer support and buddy programme in 2023 to help pilots seek therapy, but they remain hesitant to enrol. 'Signing up means being grounded without pay,' said the same pilot, who has logged similar hours to the late Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who led the ill-fated AI171 flight, adding, 'That's why none of us opt in. It feels more like a public relations exercise than real support.' The pilot also recalled facing 'several incidents,' including a major in-flight engine failure: 'You just have to be prepared, focus on the tasks at hand, and keep going. Nothing really prepares you fully for what the skies may throw at you.' Neha Kapoor Madan, 35, a former cabin crew member with 13 years of experience, said, 'The sky was my second home, but it never looked this grey.' Neha recalled a mid-air emergency involving a fuel leak and possible fire on landing: 'Back then, I wasn't scared. I knew what to do. But today, even with all that training, one thought lingered… what if the aircraft gives up on you? That feeling was different – quiet, heavy, real.' The AI171 crash, she said, 'took something from all of us.' Many have taken to social media to express their grief and concern. Aditi Syal, a content professional and wife of a 'proud Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot,' wrote on LinkedIn: 'Passengers asking cabin crew 'safely land karwa dogey na' (You will make us land safely, right?), is such a heartless attempt at a joke. It almost assumes cabin crew are not humans – they have no one waiting at home, no one waiting for their text, no one for whom their landing safely matters. And yes, there's a high chance he's flown the exact aircraft involved in Thursday's incident. When the news broke, our phones lit up.. But his response was, 'This plane has Sexy Engines, and these aircraft don't just fail. What happened is rare. Let the experts investigate.' He wasn't just being hopeful; he was speaking from years of training, thousands of hours in the cockpit and deep familiarity with one of the most advanced aircraft known today,' she wrote. Pilot Teena Goswami shared a somber account of her first flight after the crash. 'With heavy heart and full of emotions … Here we fly again… A silent flight ever I saw,' she shared on her Instagram, and described what she saw: *Passengers were quiet and fearful. *Airhostesses were getting enough respect and attention on the instructions given before takeoff. *Except pre-booked, no meals were bought. *Quite all around, and passengers not talking to each other. 'I felt so much silence and fear around, including me as well. What a devastating day of the crash, RIP all who lost their lives,' she wrote. Despite repeated attempts, many pilots and crew members declined to speak, choosing silence over reliving the trauma. Veteran pilot Captain Anil Rao, who has clocked 12,000 flying hours over 32 years, said that while such tragedies shake the aviation community, pilots are trained for precisely these moments. 'In life-and-death scenarios, a pilot fights till the very end to protect lives onboard and on the ground. That mindset is drilled into us. When a tragedy strikes close to home, there's shock and grief, yes, but pilots and cabin crew don't have the luxury to stop. We have to get up and fly,' he said. He explained the psychological balancing act. 'In the cockpit, we forget home. At home, we forget the cockpit. We have to dangle between the two extremes. We accept that tragedy has happened and see to it that such things shall not happen again, and learn from our and others' mistakes. That's our lives,' shared Rao. Captain Sunil Pillai, 58, a retired Air India pilot with 44 years of experience, took us through the intricacies of flying in times of adversity and said pilots must learn to navigate mentally taxing situations. 'Every six months, you're likely to face some form of emergency. No one's completely calm, but once in the cockpit, you know lives depend on you and you have to try and work hard to tackle those counterproductive thoughts, no matter what,' said Pillai, who has faced three engine failures and a hijack attempt. Even in this grief, they are reminded of something else they carry — resilience. 'The strength of those who flew the very next day, who stepped onto the aircraft despite the fear in their hearts. Because that is what it means to be part of this profession. We trust our training. We believe in our teams. And above all, we know that flying remains one of the safest forms of travel in the world. That confidence isn't blind — it's built from years of drills, of discipline, of reacting under pressure,' said former cabin crew Noopur Parth, Manager (Retd.) The IFS Department. Pillai swears by a checklist. 'I used to always tell my co-pilot that emergencies can happen even on the last day of one's career. So, whatever happens, you have to face it, right down to the last day. Take a deep breath and get going,' said Pillai. A managing committee member from Airline Pilot's Association of India (ALPA), that represents Indian pilots and is an associate member of the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA), told 'ALPA has not taken any stand and we are only wanting people to stop speculation and we want to be a part of AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau which is set to investigate the crash) for transparent investigation.' The member also said, 'ALPA is ready to help any pilots or the family of the now tragically deceased pilots to cope with the Post Traumatic Stress confidentially.' Captain Rao, ALPA's General Secretary, also told us that they are open to helping anybody legally and morally. 'We are open to help anybody who has a grievance and has been affected by the crash. We have a dedicated team. Our two representatives had also gone to the funeral of the first officer and the captain. We have the addresses of the cabin crew as well. We are delegating members who can visit their houses.' He also urged pilots and crew to take the tough call. 'At any time, if I am not physically or mentally well, I am not supposed to fly as per the rules. Thoughts do come, but that is part of my job to control my thoughts, my emotions. Lives are in my hands. So, we have to be responsible in what we do. So, if not well, do not fly,' he said. Tackling nerves and managing mental health are crucial not only for their well-being but for the safety and efficiency of flight operations, said Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist and the founder and director of Gateway of Healing. 'Acknowledging mental health needs and providing proper support allows these professionals to handle stress and trauma, ensuring they can perform their duties without being impaired by unresolved psychological challenges,' said Dr Tugnait. Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist and life coach, agreed, 'Your body and mind might be breaking silently, but duty doesn't pause in crisis,' and said, 'Your role is sacred, yes, but so is your sanity. You don't serve better by ignoring your emotions. You serve best when you're emotionally regulated, rested, and supported. In aviation, duty means staying calm in the skies. But it also means doing the inner work on the ground.' She also listed seven tools to protect the mental health of pilots and cabin crew while honouring their duties: 1. Three-minute check-in before every flight: Ask yourself…'Do I feel calm, alert, and clear-headed? What do I need to fly safely for myself and others?' This is your internal safety check. Do not skip it. 2. Mini-reset rituals mid-shift: a. Do your box-breathing: Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4. '3. 'Breathwork techniques (like 4-7-8 breathing) can provide a quick reset during high-stress moments, calming the mind within minutes,' Dr Tugnait said. b. Massage your pressure points (base of skull, wrists) c. Hydrate intentionally with a 10-second pause. Sip water from a glass slowly. These micro-breaks bring your nervous system out of panic and into presence. 3. Emotional debriefs are critical: After tough flights, or incidents, don't just file reports/brush it off. Talk about how you feel. Suppressed emotion becomes trauma. Process it before it becomes toxic. 4. Pre-take-off anchor cue: One small grounding ritual (touching your badge, closing your eyes for five seconds, or an affirmation like 'I am present, prepared, and protected') can flip your brain from anxious to anchored. 5. Protect off-duty time like airspace: Schedule one digital detox every three days, one full 'no crew talk' day every week and one practice that's only for you (not for duty, not for anyone else). It can be journaling, meditation, dancing – anything that keeps you peaceful and centered. 6. Seek support before feeling broken: Try solution-focused therapy or breath-based trauma work. Don't wait for breakdowns. Schedule maintenance, not rescue. See a therapist, if need be. Jayashree Narayanan writes on fitness, health, aviation safety, food, culture and everything lifestyle. She is an alumnus of AJKMCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia and Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi ... Read More

News18

2 hours ago

• News18

Tiffin Seller's Lunch Delivery Saves 80 Doctors From Ahmedabad Plane Crash; Loses Mother, Daughter

Last Updated: On June 12, Ravi Thakor, his wife, father, and a relative left the mess at 1 pm to deliver tiffin. Their daughter Aadhya stayed behind due to the heat For over 15 years, Ravi Thakor and his family have quietly served meals to doctors at Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad's Asarwa. But June 12 brought a heartbreaking turn for the family—Thakor's mother and two-year-old daughter were among the victims of the Air India flight crash. In a tragic twist of fate, Thakor's simple act of kindness that day—insisting on delivering lunch to the hospital instead of having doctors come to the mess—ended up saving the lives of nearly 80 medical staff, moments before the crash occurred at 1:40 pm. Thakor's family has long been committed to preparing and serving food at the BJ Medical College hostel mess. On June 12, Ravi Thakor, his wife Lalita, his father Prahlad Thakor, and a relative departed the mess at 1 pm to deliver tiffin. Their two-year-old daughter, Aadhya, wished to accompany them, but they left her behind, concerned about the heat. Thakor's mother, Sarla Thakor, stayed back to cook at the mess. Thakor recounted the events with a heavy heart, 'She was crying and insisted on coming with us. So, when she finally calmed down, we quietly slipped out." 'It was our daily routine to fill the tiffin, deliver the food, wash the utensils, and prepare for the next day. But we couldn't take Aadhya along, especially with the heavy tiffin in the heat," Thakor added. However, everything changed at 1:40 pm when a massive explosion occurred, and Air India Flight 171 crashed into the mess building. Thakor said, 'They were busy with their daily work. But at 1:40 pm, everything changed. Suddenly, there was a huge explosion—flames and black smoke started rising. The flight had hit the mess building, the same place where I had left my mother and daughter. We rushed to the spot, but the police and others stopped us. Some doctors pointed out what might have happened." Hints from doctors suggested the grim reality. For two days, Ravi Thakor and Lalita clung to hope, praying that Sarla and Aadhya were missing, not dead. Their worst fears were confirmed on Thursday morning when the DNA report revealed that both had perished. 'We performed their last rites on Thursday. Our lives once revolved around serving food—now, all that remains is silence," Thakor said. The accident left an unbearable void for Thakor's family. The tiffin service that had been their means of helping others turned into the cause of their own tragedy. The police and administration are investigating the incident, and the family has been promised support. On June 12, Air India flight AI-171, en route to London with 242 people on board, crashed in Ahmedabad. The aircraft collided with a medical complex in the Meghaninagar area shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and crew except one, along with 29 individuals on the ground. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 20, 2025, 17:52 IST

Business Standard

3 hours ago

• Business Standard

Air India CEO denies funeral absence claims, reaffirms Tata support

Campbell Wilson affirms management attended all AI171 crew funerals, says families are now Tata families, and outlines safety checks and scaled operations post-crash Deepak Patel New Delhi Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Friday said senior executives of the airline were present at the funeral of every flight crew member who perished in the June 12 AI171 crash, dismissing 'social media commentary' that alleged otherwise. 'We have had senior representation at each and every one,' Wilson wrote in a message to employees, adding that the management chose to keep a low profile 'as a matter of respect', to avoid disrupting services 'so important for families and loved ones'. Wilson also said the airline is supporting the families of the deceased crew members as it would those of its own staff. 'These families are now Tata families,' he said, echoing a statement by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. About 500 employees from Air India and 17 other Tata Group companies are in Ahmedabad assisting families of passengers, crew and residents affected by the tragedy. 'We will continue supporting those affected long after the work in Ahmedabad is done,' Wilson said. On the ongoing investigation into the crash of flight AI171 — which killed 241 people, including 34 on the ground — Wilson said the airline is fully cooperating with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). 'What happened? There are many theories but, as the accident is now under official investigation by the AAIB, it is not appropriate for us to comment or speculate. We are providing all information requested by the AAIB and are cooperating completely. It is vital that the facts, whatever they may be, are known so that we and the industry at large can learn from them,' he said. 'If there is any discovery during the investigation that suggests airlines or suppliers need to change something urgently, we have confidence that such information would be shared quickly. For our part, we will be transparent with what is shared with us,' he noted. The AI171 flight had 242 people — 10 cabin crew members, two pilots and 230 passengers — on board. All but one passenger died in the crash. Wilson, in his message, reassured staff that Air India's Boeing 787 fleet has passed the additional checks ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 'We have also, as a matter of abundant caution, voluntarily decided to continue additional pre-flight checks... Where there is any doubt, we will not release aircraft — of any type — for service,' he noted. He explained that these checks, along with airspace restrictions over the Middle East and Pakistan, have led to temporary flight reductions. 'We will progressively restore (services) when the time is right,' he said. Air India on Thursday night announced the suspension of its Delhi–Nairobi, Amritsar–London (Gatwick), and Goa (Mopa)–London (Gatwick) services, and reduction of frequencies on many other international routes, as part of a temporary scaling down of operations on its long-haul network. The airline cited voluntary enhanced safety inspections and extended flight durations due to airspace closures in the Middle East as the reasons for the move, which will take effect from June 21 and continue at least until July 15. Despite the setback, Wilson on Friday maintained that Air India's long-term ambitions remain intact. 'Our aim in every respect — be it safety, quality, service, scale, reach, professionalism or any other dimension — remains the same, if not higher than before,' he said, adding that the airline continues to have the 'full support of both shareholders'. Tata Group and Singapore Airlines hold 74.9 per cent and 25.1 per cent shares in Air India. Wilson ended the note by urging employees to stay focused on safety and professionalism. 'Let us continue to perform our roles as professionally as we possibly can, with complete focus on safety — and, as always, with care for our customers and each other,' he wrote.