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Air India Asked to Dismiss 3 Employees Over Recent Safety Lapses

June 21, 2025, 2:00 pm

India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), asked Air India to immediately take disciplinary action against three top officials for ‘serious and repeated transgressions’ involving flight crew rostering and safety compliance.

The June 20 order followed the voluntary report by the airline of several cases in which crew members were to fly without meeting required licensing, rest, and recency mandates. The violations were revealed during the transition from the ARMS (Aviation Resource Management System) to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System, which is applied for crew monitoring and planning.

“The voluntary disclosures, though reported, reflect systemic shortcomings in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of concern is the lack of stringent disciplinary action against principal officials directly responsible for these operational failures,” the DGCA order said.

3 Officials Accounted for the Crash

The three Air India executives who were directly found guilty of the violations were Choorah Singh, P.V.P. Divisional Vice President; Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager, Directorate of Operations, Crew Scheduling; and Payal Arora, Crew Scheduling and Planning. These executives were held responsible for non-compliant and unauthorized crew pairings, violations of licensing and recency requirements, and scheduling oversight failures.

The DGCA has asked Air India to remove these officials immediately from any position having crew scheduling or rostering responsibilities. It also ordered the airline to take internal disciplinary action at the earliest. “Internal disciplinary proceedings are to be initiated against these officials at the earliest, and the result of such proceedings shall be submitted to this office within 10 days from the date of issue of this letter,” the order stated.

Until corrective reforms are implemented, the three men are to be transferred to non-operational functions and excluded from any role that may affect flight safety or crew adherence.

Air India Reacts to Regulator’s Order

Following the DGCA’s directive, Air India said, “We accept the directive given by the regulator and have followed the order. In the meantime, the Chief Operations Officer of the company will directly monitor the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC).”

Reiterating its commitment to safety, the airline further said, “Air India is dedicated to ensuring there is complete compliance with safety procedures and standard practices.”

The move follows the increased scrutiny of Air India, days after a disastrous crash of an Ahmedabad-to-Gatwick flight that killed 241 passengers. While the DGCA order itself does not explicitly connect the breaches of schedule with the crash, the timing has heightened attention to the operational standards and the oversight of regulators.

Air India Tragedy: Parents’ Surprise Visit to Daughter Ends in Tragedy

June 14, 2025, 2:26 pm

What was supposed to be a celebratory moment became a loss beyond imagination for 21-year-old Dhavni Patel, a United Kingdom student. Her parents and her aunt, who had planned to reach London ahead of time on a surprise visit to her before she attended the convocation ceremony, were among the casualties of the Air India plane crash that took place shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday.

According to a report by NDTV, Dhavni’s parents: Rajnikant Patel and Divyaben Rajnikant along with her maternal aunt Hemangi Ben, had departed from Vasad in Gujarat en route to London. The family had initially planned to fly on June 17 but decided to advance their travel to spend more time with Dhavni and make her graduation day even more special.

Yet, disaster happened just minutes into the flight. The Air India 787-8 Dreamliner, traveling to London, crashed into a hostel for doctors in close proximity to Meghani Nagar in Ahmedabad. Rather than being reunited with her loved ones, Dhavni was told the horrific news that they were among the more than 250 individuals whose lives were cut short in the accident. Solely one person survived.

Crash Details and Investigation

Air India officially stated that Flight AI-171 carried 242 people, comprising 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, one Canadian citizen, and 12 crew members. The flight crashed soon after taking off from the airport, causing devastation and sorrow in its wake. The only survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian national, is receiving treatment at Ahmedabad’s Civil Hospital.

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inspected the site of the crash on Friday and subsequently saw the survivor in hospital. The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, also visited the site and made announcements regarding the process of identification, stating, “The forensic laboratories have been instructed to finish the DNA analysis in the minimum time possible.”

Government Sets Up Investigation Panel

Following the tragedy, the central government has set up a high-level, multi-disciplinary panel to probe the cause of the crash. The panel will minutely review contributing factors to the tragedy, assess existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and suggest enhanced safety procedures to prevent such tragedies in the future, according to an order from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The committee will also be given access to all the important evidence, such as the black box data of the aircraft, air traffic control records, maintenance records, and eyewitness accounts. The authorities have given the final report a three-month time limit for submission.

Dhanush’s ‘Kuberaa’ Delays Launch Event Following Air India Tragedy

June 13, 2025, 1:21 pm

The makers of Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, postponed the film’s pre-release event. It was scheduled for Thursday but was delayed after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

They announced the decision on X, stating, “The pre-release event of Kuberaa, scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed in light of the tragic Ahmedabad flight crash. We stand in solidarity with the grieving families.”

Makers Express Condolences

Before postponing the event, the team had expressed sympathy for the victims. They posted, “Our hearts go out to all affected by the devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims. May you find strength in this difficult time.”

Film Cast and Recent Promotions

The film stars Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nagarjuna. Shekhar K directs the project. Recently, the team released a song titled “Pippi Pippi” at an audio launch in Mumbai. The lead cast attended the event.

Film Industry Reacts with Grief

After hearing the tragic news, many Bollywood celebrities shared their condolences online.
Actor Salman Khan wrote on Instagram, “Deeply saddened to hear about the Ahmedabad plane crash… heartfelt prayers for the families of the passengers, crew and all those affected.”

Shah Rukh Khan also posted, “Absolutely heartbroken with the news about the crash in Ahmedabad… my prayers for the victims, their families and all affected.”

Aamir Khan’s team shared a message on Instagram, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash that occurred today… Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those affected. We stand in solidarity with the individuals, communities, and responders impacted by this devastating event.”

Crash Details: AI-171 Tragedy

Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport. The flight was bound for London’s Gatwick Airport. Only one person out of the 242 onboard survived. The aircraft carried 169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.

Miracle Survivor and Crew Experience

Miraculously, a British national of Indian origin survived the crash, authorities confirmed. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 flight hours, piloted the aircraft. First Officer Clive Kundar, who had 1,100 hours of flying experience, assisted him.

Crash Timeline and ATC Communication

The aircraft departed from runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST. Shortly after takeoff, the pilots issued a Mayday call. However, they didn’t respond to further ATC attempts. Within moments, the plane crashed outside the airport boundary. Officials reported heavy black smoke rising from the crash site.

Pilots’ Final Flight Ends in Tragedy as 241 Perish in Air India Crash

June 13, 2025, 12:05 pm

The Air India crash in Ahmedabad has sent shockwaves throughout the country, marking it as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory. There were 241 individuals on board whose lives ended within moments of the takeoff. The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, which exploded into flames just seconds after leaving the runway.

Eyewitnesses and aviation authorities remain stunned as investigation details slowly emerge. The incident has devastated the families of two dedicated pilots and hundreds of passengers. Only one person survived, leaving the rest of the nation grieving.

241 Dead in Air India Crash

The Air India crash in Ahmedabad has devastated hundreds of families after a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 230 passengers and 10 crew members, crashed within 32 seconds of take-off. The ill-fated flight was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport and resulted in 241 fatalities, with only one British-Indian passenger, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, surviving.

Among the deceased were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who collectively had 9,300 hours of flying experience. The crash, which occurred shortly after departing from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, saw the aircraft fail to achieve lift at just 825 feet before bursting into flames.

Captain Sabharwal, with 8,300 flying hours, lived in Powai and was deeply committed to both his profession and family. Just days before the tragedy, he had reportedly promised his father that he would retire to take care of him.

Sabharwal’s father, a former Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official, is now left heartbroken. Their neighbours noted the family’s strong ties to aviation, as both of Captain Sabharwal’s nephews are also pilots.

Clive Kunder Mourned

First Officer Clive Kunder, with 1,100 hours of flying experience, also hailed from an aviation background. His mother previously worked as an Air India flight attendant. At the time of the crash, his parents were in Sydney visiting their daughter.

The actor Vikrant Massey, who is related to the Kunder family, expressed his grief on Instagram, mourning the loss of Clive and offering prayers to those affected. Just moments before losing contact, Captain Sabharwal issued a “Mayday” distress signal, according to the DGCA.

Air India Tragedy: King Charles ‘Desperately Shocked’ by Ahmedabad Crash

June 12, 2025, 6:58 pm

King Charles and Queen Camilla shared their sincere sorrow and shock after the tragic Air India plane crash that took place on Thursday in Ahmedabad. In an official statement placed on The Royal Family’s X account, the royal pair offered condolences to all those affected by the tragedy.

My wife and I have been frantically shocked by the horrible reports coming out of Ahmedabad this morning. Our special prayers and our deepest possible sympathy go out to the families and loved ones of all those impacted by this horrifyingly tragic event across so many countries, as they wait for news of their loved ones,” the statement said.

King Charles also commended the relentless work of rescue workers and emergency responders on the ground. “I would particularly wish to pay tribute to the heroic work of emergency services and all those giving assistance and support at this most tragic and traumatic time,” he continued.

The royal statement arrives as people across the globe look for updates on the emerging news in Ahmedabad.

Air India Crash: CJI, Putin React as Crash Hits Hospital Staff Housing

June 12, 2025, 6:22 pm

In a tragic first, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—widely considered one of the safest aircraft in aviation history—has crashed. The Air India flight, headed for London, went down minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, marking the first-ever crash of a B-787 Dreamliner.

Experts say that if the incident involved a dual engine failure, it would represent an almost unheard-of event with odds of 1 in 10 million.

Putin on the Air India plane crash

The devastating crash has drawn national and international attention. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended condolences to Indian leaders, saying, “Please accept my deepest condolences over the tragic consequences of the plane crash at Ahmedabad Airport. Please convey my sympathy and support to the families of those killed and my wishes for a swift recovery to those injured in the crash.”

CJI Expresses Concern for Hospital Inmates

The crash site of Air India Flight, Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad, is home to residential buildings for doctors and staff of BJ Medical College. Witnesses said the plane slammed into the quarters, causing severe damage to several buildings, some of which caught fire.

“There are several five-floor buildings that serve as residential quarters. Many people in those apartments were injured as the buildings also caught fire,” said one eyewitness. While official numbers are yet to be confirmed, multiple injuries have been reported.

The tragedy has also shaken India’s judiciary. In an official statement, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Supreme Court judges, along with Registry officials, expressed sympathy.

“The Chief Justice of India has also expressed his concern for the inmates of the B J Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. During these difficult times, our thoughts and prayers are with them. May they find strength and solace in the support of their loved ones,” the CJI said.

Authorities continue rescue operations and investigations into what caused this rare and tragic event.