Commercial flight operations formally began from the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport on Thursday, marking the second global airport in Maharashtra. The project, which was developed through a special purpose vehicle, was also executed in multiple phases.&nbsp;After the inauguration, the Air India Express service took off for Bengaluru, with the landmark moment marked by a special ceremony at NMIA, during which the airline handed the first passenger a commemorative boarding pass. IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru also arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 8 am and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, where fire tenders spray arches of water over the aircraft as it taxis.<h3>What are the routes, operating hours and connectivity?</h3>According to the Times of India, the airport operator stated that 15 scheduled departures were planned on the first day. In the initial stage, airport operations will run for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm, with facilities to support up to 24 departures a day across 13 destinations. The airport can also accommodate as many as 10 aircraft movements every hour.&nbsp;Travel time from Worli in south Mumbai is estimated at about 70 minutes via the Reach Freeway, Atal Setu and Ulwe–Belapur Road. Commuters from Powai in the eastern suburbs are expected to take a similar time using the Eastern Express Highway and Vashi Bridge.&nbsp;Residents of Thane can reach the airport in roughly 60 minutes, while those travelling from Goregaon in the western suburbs may require up to 95 minutes during peak traffic. Journeys from Mira Road and Kalyan-Dombivli could exceed two hours during rush hours.&nbsp;Passengers from Airoli–Belapur can access the airport via Thane–Belapur Road or Palm Beach Road, while travellers from Kharghar–Panvel are advised to use the Sion–Panvel Road through Kalamboli Circle. Commuters from Mumbai’s western suburbs may continue opting for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport unless Navi Mumbai Airport offers cheaper fares or substantially quicker connectivity.&nbsp;IndiGo, which commenced operations at the new airport with its first arrival from Bengaluru and first departure to Hyderabad has also announced an initial network connecting NMIA to 13 destinations, including daily flights to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Nagpur, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur, along with services to Goa (Mopa), Chennai, Coimbatore and Vadodara on select days.

The airport operator stated that 15 scheduled departures were planned on the first day. In the initial stage, airport operations will run for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm, with facilities to support up to 24 departures a day across 13 destinations. 

Commercial flight operations formally began from the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport on Thursday, marking the second global airport in Maharashtra. The project, which was developed through a special purpose vehicle, was also executed in multiple phases. After the inauguration, the Air India Express service took off for Bengaluru, with the landmark moment marked by a special ceremony at NMIA, during which the airline handed the first passenger a commemorative boarding pass. IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru also arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 8 am and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, where fire tenders spray arches of water over the aircraft as it taxis. What are the routes, operating hours and connectivity? According to the Times of India, the airport operator stated that 15 scheduled departures were planned on the first day. In the initial stage, airport operations will run for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm, with facilities to support up to 24 departures a day across 13 destinations. The airport can also accommodate as many as 10 aircraft movements every hour. Travel time from Worli in south Mumbai is estimated at about 70 minutes via the Reach Freeway, Atal Setu and Ulwe–Belapur Road. Commuters from Powai in the eastern suburbs are expected to take a similar time using the Eastern Express Highway and Vashi Bridge. Residents of Thane can reach the airport in roughly 60 minutes, while those travelling from Goregaon in the western suburbs may require up to 95 minutes during peak traffic. Journeys from Mira Road and Kalyan-Dombivli could exceed two hours during rush hours. Passengers from Airoli–Belapur can access the airport via Thane–Belapur Road or Palm Beach Road, while travellers from Kharghar–Panvel are advised to use the Sion–Panvel Road through Kalamboli Circle. Commuters from Mumbai’s western suburbs may continue opting for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport unless Navi Mumbai Airport offers cheaper fares or substantially quicker connectivity. IndiGo, which commenced operations at the new airport with its first arrival from Bengaluru and first departure to Hyderabad has also announced an initial network connecting NMIA to 13 destinations, including daily flights to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Nagpur, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur, along with services to Goa (Mopa), Chennai, Coimbatore and Vadodara on select days.

The airport operator stated that 15 scheduled departures were planned on the first day. In the initial stage, airport operations will run for 12 hours daily, from 8 am to 8 pm, with facilities to support up to 24 departures a day across 13 destinations.&nbsp;

Navi Mumbai International Airport goes live: Check flights, routes, timings & connectivity

Air India Express became one of the first airlines to launch services from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after inaugurating commercial operations from the newly opened airport on Thursday. The flight company owned by the Tata Group began its direct services to Bengaluru and Delhi, marking NMIA’s debut as the second aviation gateway of Mumbai.&nbsp;The airport's first Air India Express service took off for Bengaluru, with the landmark moment marked by a special ceremony at NMIA, during which the airline handed the first passenger a commemorative boarding pass. After the Bengaluru launch, the airline’s maiden flight to Delhi was scheduled to leave Navi Mumbai at 14:05 hours and touch down in the national capital at 16:20 hours, according to a report in ET.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 8 am and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, where fire tenders spray arches of water over the aircraft as it taxis, as reported by NDTV.&nbsp;Before the first arrival, IndiGo personnel marked the occasion by cutting a cake and breaking coconuts, following customary rituals. The airport’s first outbound service soon followed the arrival, IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad, which departed at 8.40 am.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">History is being made! ✈️🇮🇳 The inaugural flight has officially landed at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NaviMumbaiInternationalAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NaviMumbaiInternationalAirport</a> (NMIA). This is more than just an airport,it represents a significant enhancement for Maharashtra’s connectivity and the future of India’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aviation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aviation</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AdaniOnline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdaniOnline</a> After… <a href="https://t.co/oJuD6kPiaj">pic.twitter.com/oJuD6kPiaj</a>&mdash; Sheetal Chopra 🇮🇳 (@SheetalPronamo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheetalPronamo/status/2004081996772134976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Over 1500 drones feature ahead of airport operational launch</h3>Meanwhile, a drone show featuring 1,515 drones was organised on Wednesday (December 24, 2025) to mark the operational launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Thursday. A video posted by the news agency ANI, citing Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), shows drones moving in seamless coordination, creating striking aerial formations such as 3D Lotus blooms, a plane flying over Mumbai, Lotus Design Interiors, Airport Logo, Green Airport Rise of India, among others, all centred around the theme and splendour of the airport.&nbsp;NMIA, the second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after Mumbai International Airport, is poised to emerge as one of India’s busiest and most important aviation hubs. Spread across 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres), the airport is designed to handle 90 million passengers annually upon completion. It will feature two parallel runways, modern terminals and advanced cargo facilities to ensure smooth passenger movement and efficient freight operations.&nbsp;In its first phase, NMIA will have the capacity to handle 20 million passengers a year and process 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.

Air India Express launched services after the inauguration of commercial operations from the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). In addition, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at the newly opened airport.

Air India Express became one of the first airlines to launch services from the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after inaugurating commercial operations from the newly opened airport on Thursday. The flight company owned by the Tata Group began its direct services to Bengaluru and Delhi, marking NMIA’s debut as the second aviation gateway of Mumbai. The airport's first Air India Express service took off for Bengaluru, with the landmark moment marked by a special ceremony at NMIA, during which the airline handed the first passenger a commemorative boarding pass. After the Bengaluru launch, the airline’s maiden flight to Delhi was scheduled to leave Navi Mumbai at 14:05 hours and touch down in the national capital at 16:20 hours, according to a report in ET. Earlier in the day, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 8 am and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, where fire tenders spray arches of water over the aircraft as it taxis, as reported by NDTV. Before the first arrival, IndiGo personnel marked the occasion by cutting a cake and breaking coconuts, following customary rituals. The airport’s first outbound service soon followed the arrival, IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad, which departed at 8.40 am.

Air India Express launched services after the inauguration of commercial operations from the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). In addition, IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru arrived at the newly opened airport.

Navi Mumbai Airport goes live with first flights, water cannon welcome

India pacer Mohammed Siraj, in a social media post, described the ordeal he went through while taking a flight out of Guwahati after completion of the second Test against South Africa. Siraj was flying back to his home town Hyderabad after being rested for the ODI leg of the South Africa home series which starts November 30 in Ranchi. Siraj was left stranded on the airport for nearly four hours and called out the airline, Air Indian Express, for their unprofessional handling of the situation.<h2>Siraj shares his 'worst experience ever'</h2>In his post, Siraj explained how his flight was delayed without providing any justifiable reason despite "repeatedly following up." He called it the "worst experience ever" and said that one should avoid taking that particular flight. The airline quickly responded to the concern raised by the cricketer and informed that the flight has been cancelled because of unforeseen operational reasons.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Air India flight no IX 2884 from Guwahati to Hyderabad was supposed to take off at 7.25 however there has been no communication from the airline and after repeatedly following up, they have just delayed the flight with no proper reasoning. This has been really frustrating and…&mdash; Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/mdsirajofficial/status/1993742403883466760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/latest-wtc-standings-2025-27-india-slip-below-pakistan-after-series-loss-vs-south-africa-1764155097455">WTC Standings 2025-27: India slip below Pakistan after series loss vs SA</a>"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused, Mr Siraj. We regret to inform you that the flight has been cancelled due to unforeseen operational reasons. Our team at the airport is actively assisting all guests with the necessary arrangements. We understand how difficult this situation is, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Please be assured that our team will continue to keep you updated and extend all possible support," wrote the airline.<h2>Siraj given a break</h2>Amid Jasprit Bumrah's limited availability because of workload manageme, Siraj has become the de facto leader of the Indian pace attack. He has been playing continuously for several month across formats. The pacer, however, has been rested from the upcoming three-ODI series against South Africa but is expected to be back for the T20I series which will follow after, keeping next year's T20 World Cup in sight where India will enter as the defending champions.

In his post, Siraj explained how his flight was delayed without providing any justifiable reason despite "repeatedly following up." He called it the "worst experience ever" and said that one should avoid taking that particular flight.

India pacer Mohammed Siraj, in a social media post, described the ordeal he went through while taking a flight out of Guwahati after completion of the second Test against South Africa. Siraj was flying back to his home town Hyderabad after being rested for the ODI leg of the South Africa home series which starts November 30 in Ranchi. Siraj was left stranded on the airport for nearly four hours and called out the airline, Air Indian Express, for their unprofessional handling of the situation. Siraj shares his 'worst experience ever' In his post, Siraj explained how his flight was delayed without providing any justifiable reason despite "repeatedly following up." He called it the "worst experience ever" and said that one should avoid taking that particular flight. The airline quickly responded to the concern raised by the cricketer and informed that the flight has been cancelled because of unforeseen operational reasons.

In his post, Siraj explained how his flight was delayed without providing any justifiable reason despite "repeatedly following up." He called it the "worst experience ever" and said that one should avoid taking that particular flight.

India pacer Siraj lashes out at Air India for 'worst airline experience'; airline responds

A passenger aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi caused a momentary scare when he tried to open the cockpit door mid-flight on Monday (September 22). The airline clarified that the passenger, traveling on his first-ever flight, was merely searching for the lavatory when he mistakenly approached the cockpit entrance. The airline issued a statement emphasising that security measures were not breached and that the situation was handled according to standard protocols. A spokesperson for Air India Express confirmed that the incident had been reported to the relevant authorities and was under investigation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/from-ghee-and-butter-to-ice-cream-amul-cuts-prices-on-700-products-as-gst-reforms-kick-in-check-full-list-1758532747193">From ghee and butter to ice-cream: Amul cuts prices on 700+ products as GST reforms kick in – Check full list</a>&nbsp;An Air India Express spokesperson said, “We are aware of media reports regarding an incident on one of our flights to Varanasi, where a passenger approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory. We reaffirm that robust safety and security protocols are in place and were not compromised. The matter was reported to the relevant authorities on landing and is currently under investigation.” &nbsp;The incident occurred on flight IX-1086. According to reports, the passenger, unaware of his error, claimed that he had confused the cockpit door with the lavatory. After the crew intervened and explained his mistake, he promptly returned to his seat without further incident. The passenger was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for further procedures as per aviation safety norms.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/telangana-first-year-engineering-student-dies-by-suicide-alleged-harassment-by-seniors-police-register-case-1758532222176">Telangana: First-year engineering student dies by suicide, alleging harassment by seniors; police register case</a>&nbsp;Several reports also suggested that the individual even attempted to input the correct passcode for the cockpit door. However, the cockpit crew, suspecting potential security concerns, quickly blocked his entry. This detail, though, could not be independently verified by WION. Interestingly, this incident followed another unusual occurrence the day before, involving a separate Air India flight. On that flight, a passenger's boarding pass was stamped for entry, but the individual never boarded the plane and wandered into the arrivals area. The aircraft, which had already begun to back away from the gate, was forced to return, causing a two-hour delay.

Cockpit door, a passcode and a first-time flier: Air India Express faces mid-flight scare. Here's what really happened

A passenger aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi caused a momentary scare when he tried to open the cockpit door mid-flight on Monday (September 22). The airline clarified that the passenger, traveling on his first-ever flight, was merely searching for the lavatory when he mistakenly approached the cockpit entrance. The airline issued a statement emphasising that security measures were not breached and that the situation was handled according to standard protocols. A spokesperson for Air India Express confirmed that the incident had been reported to the relevant authorities and was under investigation. Also Read: From ghee and butter to ice-cream: Amul cuts prices on 700+ products as GST reforms kick in – Check full list An Air India Express spokesperson said, “We are aware of media reports regarding an incident on one of our flights to Varanasi, where a passenger approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory. We reaffirm that robust safety and security protocols are in place and were not compromised. The matter was reported to the relevant authorities on landing and is currently under investigation.” The incident occurred on flight IX-1086. According to reports, the passenger, unaware of his error, claimed that he had confused the cockpit door with the lavatory. After the crew intervened and explained his mistake, he promptly returned to his seat without further incident. The passenger was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for further procedures as per aviation safety norms. Also Read: Telangana: First-year engineering student dies by suicide, alleging harassment by seniors; police register case Several reports also suggested that the individual even attempted to input the correct passcode for the cockpit door. However, the cockpit crew, suspecting potential security concerns, quickly blocked his entry. This detail, though, could not be independently verified by WION. Interestingly, this incident followed another unusual occurrence the day before, involving a separate Air India flight. On that flight, a passenger's boarding pass was stamped for entry, but the individual never boarded the plane and wandered into the arrivals area. The aircraft, which had already begun to back away from the gate, was forced to return, causing a two-hour delay.

The airline clarified that the passenger, traveling on his first-ever flight, was merely searching for the lavatory when he mistakenly approached the cockpit entrance

An Indore-bound Air India Express flight from Delhi, carrying 161 passengers, faced a mid-air scare on Friday (September 5) when one of its engines developed a technical snag. The pilot issued a ‘PAN-PAN’ call—an international alert used for urgent but non-life-threatening situations—to Air Traffic Control. The flight, IX 1028, landed down safely at Indore’s Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport at 9:55 am, about 20 minutes behind schedule. No injuries were reported.&nbsp;Indore airport director Vipinkant Seth confirmed that the aircraft experienced an engine-related issue during the approach phase. “As soon as we received word about the problem, emergency teams were kept ready on the ground. The plane landed without incident, and all standard safety measures were in place,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-let-me-state-clearly-ajit-pawar-clarifies-after-viral-video-shows-him-rebuking-female-ips-officer-1757068453680">'Let me state clearly...': Ajit Pawar clarifies after viral video shows him 'rebuking' female IPS officer</a>&nbsp;According to the airline, the suspected fault was linked to the oil filter system. An Air India Express spokesperson explained that the pilots followed protocol and requested priority landing, stressing that it was not an emergency landing. “Our crew are trained to handle such events calmly and professionally,” the spokesperson added.<h2>What is a PAN-PAN call?</h2>A ‘PAN-PAN’ call is distinct from the more severe ‘MAYDAY’ signal. While the latter denotes a life-threatening emergency, PAN-PAN indicates that assistance is required but there is no immediate danger to passengers or crew. This isn’t the first time a Delhi–Indore service has faced such an issue. In an earlier case, an Air India flight had to return to Delhi shortly after departure following a fire warning in one engine. Initially, the pilot issued a MAYDAY distress call but later downgraded it to PAN-PAN after confirming the situation was under control. That aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, landed safely back in the capital after about half an hour in the air.

Air India Express pilot makes PAN-PAN call as Delhi–Indore flight encounters technical fault; lands safely

An Indore-bound Air India Express flight from Delhi, carrying 161 passengers, faced a mid-air scare on Friday (September 5) when one of its engines developed a technical snag. The pilot issued a ‘PAN-PAN’ call—an international alert used for urgent but non-life-threatening situations—to Air Traffic Control. The flight, IX 1028, landed down safely at Indore’s Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport at 9:55 am, about 20 minutes behind schedule. No injuries were reported. Indore airport director Vipinkant Seth confirmed that the aircraft experienced an engine-related issue during the approach phase. “As soon as we received word about the problem, emergency teams were kept ready on the ground. The plane landed without incident, and all standard safety measures were in place,” he said. Also Read: 'Let me state clearly...': Ajit Pawar clarifies after viral video shows him 'rebuking' female IPS officer According to the airline, the suspected fault was linked to the oil filter system. An Air India Express spokesperson explained that the pilots followed protocol and requested priority landing, stressing that it was not an emergency landing. “Our crew are trained to handle such events calmly and professionally,” the spokesperson added. What is a PAN-PAN call? A ‘PAN-PAN’ call is distinct from the more severe ‘MAYDAY’ signal. While the latter denotes a life-threatening emergency, PAN-PAN indicates that assistance is required but there is no immediate danger to passengers or crew. This isn’t the first time a Delhi–Indore service has faced such an issue. In an earlier case, an Air India flight had to return to Delhi shortly after departure following a fire warning in one engine. Initially, the pilot issued a MAYDAY distress call but later downgraded it to PAN-PAN after confirming the situation was under control. That aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, landed safely back in the capital after about half an hour in the air.

An Air India Express Delhi–Indore flight carrying 161 passengers landed safely after the pilot issued a PAN-PAN call over an engine fault issue

Amid the developing situation in West Asia, Air India on Monday night suspended all its operations to the region, along with Europe and the east coast of North America, until further notice. The announcement came after Iran launched a missile targeting an American military base in Qatar, resulting in Asian nations shutting down their airspace.Amid the situation, several flights en route to key airports such as Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were diverted to other airports. In addition to Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo were also affected, according to flight tracking data.Countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait have shut their respective airspaces, which leads to significant disruption of the services. However, Qatar opened its airspace later. Meanwhile, the closure duration of the most of the airspace in the region remains unclear. Some experts indicated that suspensions would be for short durations, with flights resuming in the affected airspaces within a few hours.After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region.<h3>Air India offers direct flights to Europe and North America</h3>The West Asian air corridors are vital for air travel between India and Europe, as well as parts of North America. Currently, Air India is the only Indian airline offering direct connections to Europe and North America. Most other Indian airlines primarily operate short-haul international flights, particularly within West Asia.“Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice. Our India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins, and others are being diverted back to India or rerouted away from the closed airspace. We request the understanding of all passengers who may be affected by this disruption that’s beyond an airline’s control. Air India is in continuous consultation with its external security advisors and is vigilantly monitoring the evolving situation. We will keep our passengers informed of any updates. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our number one priority,” an Air India spokesperson said.“As a result of the ongoing situation in the Middle East and suspension of Qatar airspace, Air India Express has diverted our Doha-bound flight from Kochi to Muscat and returned our flight bound from Kannur. We have no other flights bound for Qatar. Air India Express has no aircraft on the ground in Qatar. We are monitoring the situation closely and will take all necessary precautions for the safety and security of our guests and crew, with inputs from the relevant authorities,” an Air India Express spokesperson said Monday night.Air India Express, for instance, runs 25 weekly flights to Doha, Qatar’s capital, with direct connections from cities including Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchchirappalli.“In light of the recent developments in the Middle East, flight arrivals and departures from Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Ras Al-Khaimah and Tbilisi are impacted. We are actively monitoring the situation and adjusting our operations to ensure the highest level of safety for our customers and crew. We understand that diversions/delays disrupt travel plans, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. Impacted customers are advised to check their flight status on our website or app and may explore alternate travel options available online,” IndiGo said in an advisory to passengers on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter)SpiceJet also said in its advisory on X, “Due to airspace closure in the Middle East, some of our flights may be affected. Passengers are advised to check their flight status.”Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel; however, 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations has not been concluded. After the Trump announcement of a ceasefire, the Israeli army confirmed that Iranian missiles had been fired at Israel.&nbsp;

After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region.

Amid the developing situation in West Asia, Air India on Monday night suspended all its operations to the region, along with Europe and the east coast of North America, until further notice. The announcement came after Iran launched a missile targeting an American military base in Qatar, resulting in Asian nations shutting down their airspace. Amid the situation, several flights en route to key airports such as Doha, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi were diverted to other airports. In addition to Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo were also affected, according to flight tracking data. Countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait have shut their respective airspaces, which leads to significant disruption of the services. However, Qatar opened its airspace later. Meanwhile, the closure duration of the most of the airspace in the region remains unclear. Some experts indicated that suspensions would be for short durations, with flights resuming in the affected airspaces within a few hours. After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region. Air India offers direct flights to Europe and North America The West Asian air corridors are vital for air travel between India and Europe, as well as parts of North America. Currently, Air India is the only Indian airline offering direct connections to Europe and North America. Most other Indian airlines primarily operate short-haul international flights, particularly within West Asia. “Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice. Our India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins, and others are being diverted back to India or rerouted away from the closed airspace. We request the understanding of all passengers who may be affected by this disruption that’s beyond an airline’s control. Air India is in continuous consultation with its external security advisors and is vigilantly monitoring the evolving situation. We will keep our passengers informed of any updates. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our number one priority,” an Air India spokesperson said. “As a result of the ongoing situation in the Middle East and suspension of Qatar airspace, Air India Express has diverted our Doha-bound flight from Kochi to Muscat and returned our flight bound from Kannur. We have no other flights bound for Qatar. Air India Express has no aircraft on the ground in Qatar. We are monitoring the situation closely and will take all necessary precautions for the safety and security of our guests and crew, with inputs from the relevant authorities,” an Air India Express spokesperson said Monday night. Air India Express, for instance, runs 25 weekly flights to Doha, Qatar’s capital, with direct connections from cities including Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchchirappalli. “In light of the recent developments in the Middle East, flight arrivals and departures from Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Ras Al-Khaimah and Tbilisi are impacted. We are actively monitoring the situation and adjusting our operations to ensure the highest level of safety for our customers and crew. We understand that diversions/delays disrupt travel plans, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. Impacted customers are advised to check their flight status on our website or app and may explore alternate travel options available online,” IndiGo said in an advisory to passengers on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) SpiceJet also said in its advisory on X, “Due to airspace closure in the Middle East, some of our flights may be affected. Passengers are advised to check their flight status.” Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel; however, 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations has not been concluded. After the Trump announcement of a ceasefire, the Israeli army confirmed that Iranian missiles had been fired at Israel.

After Air India had suspended its services to several destinations west of India, as those routes involve flying over West Asian airspace, other Indian carriers have also issued advisories alerting passengers to potential delays or diversions on flights operating in the region.

Air India suspends flights to West Asia, Europe, US East Coast till further notice amid Iran-Israel war

<div data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">In a strategic leadership transition within the Tata Group&rsquo;s aviation sector, Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Air India, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the airline's low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. This change follows the resignation of Campbell Wilson, who will continue to serve as the Managing Director and CEO of Air India.</div>
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<h2>Who is Nipun Aggarwal?</h2>
<div>Aggarwal joined Air India in January 2022, shortly after Tata Group&rsquo;s acquisition of the airline. He played a pivotal role in the takeover and has since overseen key business functions, including aircraft acquisition, financing, network strategy, and loyalty program management. His influence has extended across multiple verticals, positioning him as a key architect of Air India&rsquo;s ongoing transformation.</div>
<div>According to Reuters, Aggarwal has also been instrumental in leading Air India&rsquo;s multi-billion-dollar aircraft deals. The airline is currently exploring additional widebody jet acquisitions, a move crucial for global expansion but complicated by industry-wide aircraft delivery delays.</div>
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<h2>Tata Group&rsquo;s Airline Strategy: Mergers and Turnaround</h2>
<div>Nearly two years into its ownership of Air India, Tata Group has undertaken a major consolidation of its aviation portfolio. It merged four airline entities into two core carriers: the full-service Air India (including Vistara) and the low-cost Air India Express (now integrated with AirAsia India). The move aims to create synergy across operations, optimize fleet utilization, and present a unified brand experience.</div>
<div>&ldquo;With this structural work largely complete, the task at hand now [is] to fully leverage and optimize the Group fleet, network, sales, distribution, and loyalty assets,&rdquo; Wilson said in an internal memo, as quoted by Reuters.</div>
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<h2>Jet Delivery Delays Slowing Modernization</h2>
<div>Despite the ambitious roadmap, Air India&rsquo;s turnaround has been complicated by delays in aircraft deliveries. The airline is being forced to operate older jets longer than anticipated, resulting in higher maintenance costs and slowing the modernization and expansion drive&mdash;even as global air travel sees a post-pandemic boom.</div>
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<div>According to Reuters, Air India had placed a massive order for 470 aircraft last year, including Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A350 jets. However, ongoing supply chain constraints and geopolitical tensions have impacted timely delivery.</div>
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<div>Following a Bloomberg News report that China has instructed its airlines to halt Boeing aircraft deliveries amid a tariff dispute with the United States of America. The news further cited that Air India might consider acquiring some of the jets rejected by Chinese carriers for use in its low-cost operations. However, sources cautioned that the situation remains fluid, and neither Air India nor Boeing has commented on the development.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Air India Express currently operates a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, including 68 Boeing 737s and 36 Airbus A320s. The airline plans to expand further by adding approximately 15 aircraft in the current fiscal year, which began on April 1. Some of these new additions will be transferred from Air India.</div>
<div>The Express brand plays a complementary role to its parent carrier, focusing on budget travelers while aligning its network strategy to avoid overlap. Under Aggarwal&rsquo;s leadership, the airline is expected to tighten operational integration and accelerate Tata&rsquo;s vision of a cohesive, world-class airline group.</div>

Business & Economy: Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Air India, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Air India Express.

In a strategic leadership transition within the Tata Group’s aviation sector, Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Air India, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the airline's low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. This change follows the resignation of Campbell Wilson, who will continue to serve as the Managing Director and CEO of Air India. Who is Nipun Aggarwal? Aggarwal joined Air India in January 2022, shortly after Tata Group’s acquisition of the airline. He played a pivotal role in the takeover and has since overseen key business functions, including aircraft acquisition, financing, network strategy, and loyalty program management. His influence has extended across multiple verticals, positioning him as a key architect of Air India’s ongoing transformation. According to Reuters, Aggarwal has also been instrumental in leading Air India’s multi-billion-dollar aircraft deals. The airline is currently exploring additional widebody jet acquisitions, a move crucial for global expansion but complicated by industry-wide aircraft delivery delays. Tata Group’s Airline Strategy: Mergers and Turnaround Nearly two years into its ownership of Air India, Tata Group has undertaken a major consolidation of its aviation portfolio. It merged four airline entities into two core carriers: the full-service Air India (including Vistara) and the low-cost Air India Express (now integrated with AirAsia India). The move aims to create synergy across operations, optimize fleet utilization, and present a unified brand experience. “With this structural work largely complete, the task at hand now [is] to fully leverage and optimize the Group fleet, network, sales, distribution, and loyalty assets,” Wilson said in an internal memo, as quoted by Reuters. Jet Delivery Delays Slowing Modernization Despite the ambitious roadmap, Air India’s turnaround has been complicated by delays in aircraft deliveries. The airline is being forced to operate older jets longer than anticipated, resulting in higher maintenance costs and slowing the modernization and expansion drive—even as global air travel sees a post-pandemic boom. According to Reuters, Air India had placed a massive order for 470 aircraft last year, including Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A350 jets. However, ongoing supply chain constraints and geopolitical tensions have impacted timely delivery. Following a Bloomberg News report that China has instructed its airlines to halt Boeing aircraft deliveries amid a tariff dispute with the United States of America. The news further cited that Air India might consider acquiring some of the jets rejected by Chinese carriers for use in its low-cost operations. However, sources cautioned that the situation remains fluid, and neither Air India nor Boeing has commented on the development. Air India Express currently operates a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, including 68 Boeing 737s and 36 Airbus A320s. The airline plans to expand further by adding approximately 15 aircraft in the current fiscal year, which began on April 1. Some of these new additions will be transferred from Air India. The Express brand plays a complementary role to its parent carrier, focusing on budget travelers while aligning its network strategy to avoid overlap. Under Aggarwal’s leadership, the airline is expected to tighten operational integration and accelerate Tata’s vision of a cohesive, world-class airline group.

Air India’s Campbell Wilson Replaced: Who is Nipun Aggarwal?

Air India's recent flight cancellations have disrupted holiday travel plans for many passengers heading to the USA. The cancellations have raised concerns among travelers, particularly during the busy holiday season, as they seek alternatives to reach their destinations amidst ongoing operational challenges.

Air India's Flight Cancellations Impact Holiday Travel To The USA

An Air India Express flight IX-196 flying from Dubai to Jaipur, with 189 passengers onboard, received a bomb threat via email, the news agency ANI reported on Saturday (Oct 19) citing the Jaipur Airport police.

An Air India Express flight IX-196 flying from Dubai to Jaipur, with 189 passengers onboard, received a bomb threat via email, the news agency ANI reported on Saturday (Oct 19) citing the Jaipur Airport police. The aircraft landed at the airport at 1.20 am IST and "after a thorough check by the security forces, nothing suspicious was found," an airport police official told the news agency. Vistara's Delhi-London flight diverted after bomb threat This bomb threat came hours after a London-bound Vistara flight from Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt on Friday. On Saturday, an airline spokesperson said in a statement the flight landed safely at the Frankfurt airport and mandatory checks are being conducted. The flight will continue to its destination once cleared by the security agencies. "Vistara flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on October 18, 2024, received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt," the statement added. Akasa Air flight receives security threat Meanwhile, Akasa Air said its flight QP 1366 scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Friday received a security alert shortly before departure. "Hence as per safety and security procedures, all passengers had to be deplaned as the local authorities followed necessary procedures. We request your understanding as our team on the ground did everything possible to reduce inconvenience," the airline said in a post on X. Nearly 40 flights operated by Indian carriers received threats in recent days In recent days, nearly 40 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats which later turned out to be hoaxes, a report by the news agency PTI on Saturday said. India's Civil Aviation Ministry plans to put in place strict norms to prevent incidents of hoax bomb threats to airlines, including placing the perpetrators on the no-fly list. (With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express flight from Dubai to Jaipur receives bomb threat via email

An Air India Express flight that reported a hydraulic failure shortly after take-off from the Tiruchirappalli airport in Tamil Nadu landed safely. Watch for more details!

BREAKING: After Mid-Air Scare, Air India Express Flight Lands Safely at Trichy Airport

Air India Express, which recently faced disruptions in its flight operations due to a strike by cabin crew members on May 7, will return to normal services&nbsp;by Tuesday (May 14), according to reports.

Notably, more than 80 flights were cancelled after around 300 employees went on a 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions.&nbsp;

It also resulted in&nbsp;cancellation of international and domestic flights on May 8 and May 9.

However, the cabin crew members have now returned&nbsp;to work and the airline will resume its operations by Tuesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-indias-crew-members-go-on-mass-sick-leave-more-than-70-flights-cancelled-719207" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-indias-crew-members-go-on-mass-sick-leave-more-than-70-flights-cancelled-719207&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwje6diWiIqGAxUMSmwGHa9SBdUQFnoECAEQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0cbduSlTRHuNG0gE3F5lsx&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-indias-crew-members-go-on-mass-sick-leave-more-than-70-flights-cancelled-719207" target="_blank">Air India&nbsp;Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave</a>

According to a report by PTI, the strike was called off following a reconciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner in Delhi. Representatives from the Air India Express Employees Union and the airline attended the meeting, resulting in the withdrawal of termination letters issued to 25 cabin crew members.&nbsp;

On May 8, Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions.

Air India Express acknowledged the recent flight disruptions and apologised to the affected passengers for the inconvenience. They further advised all passengers with upcoming flights to confirm their status before heading to the airport.

<h2>What prompted crew members to take 'mass sick leave'?</h2>

Air India Express employees were protesting against the company's new employment terms.&nbsp;According to the reports, the crew&nbsp;alleged&nbsp;there was a lack of equality in the way the staff was treated.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-revokes-termination-of-25-crew-members-719839" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-revokes-termination-of-25-crew-members-719839&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwje6diWiIqGAxUMSmwGHa9SBdUQFnoECAkQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ML9Yo9Q8BCYu1cSwe6jvU&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-revokes-termination-of-25-crew-members-719839" target="_blank">Air India&nbsp;Express revokes termination of 25 crew members&nbsp;</a>

The employees claimed that few of them were offered lower job roles even though they cleared interviews for senior positions.

The employees had also raised concerns regarding some modifications in their compensation package. Such developments continue to take place as the airline remains involved in a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India).

(With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express, which recently faced disruptions in its flight operations due to a strike by cabin crew members on May 7, will return to normal services by Tuesday (May 14), according to reports.

Air India Express, which recently faced disruptions in its flight operations due to a strike by cabin crew members on May 7, will return to normal services by Tuesday (May 14), according to reports. Notably, more than 80 flights were cancelled after around 300 employees went on a 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions. It also resulted in cancellation of international and domestic flights on May 8 and May 9. However, the cabin crew members have now returned to work and the airline will resume its operations by Tuesday. Also read: Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave According to a report by PTI, the strike was called off following a reconciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner in Delhi. Representatives from the Air India Express Employees Union and the airline attended the meeting, resulting in the withdrawal of termination letters issued to 25 cabin crew members. On May 8, Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions. Air India Express acknowledged the recent flight disruptions and apologised to the affected passengers for the inconvenience. They further advised all passengers with upcoming flights to confirm their status before heading to the airport. What prompted crew members to take 'mass sick leave'? Air India Express employees were protesting against the company's new employment terms. According to the reports, the crew alleged there was a lack of equality in the way the staff was treated. Also read: Air India Express revokes termination of 25 crew members The employees claimed that few of them were offered lower job roles even though they cleared interviews for senior positions. The employees had also raised concerns regarding some modifications in their compensation package. Such developments continue to take place as the airline remains involved in a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). (With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express crew returns to work, flights to normalise by Tuesday

Air India Express said on Thursday its cabin crew has rejoined work after reporting sick this week. That's a big relief for passengers, after the Tata group-owned budget carrier had to cancel its flights for the second straight day. The airline, which employs over 2,000 cabin crew, flies to 31 domestic and 14 international destinations and has a fleet of over 70 aircraft.

Air India Express cabin crew rejoin work after reporting sick, says report

Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew a day after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions.

Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew a day after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions. There are chances that the number of people sacked will increase and the management will most probably hold a town hall meeting on Thursday (May 9) with the cabin crew members. The mass sick leave led to the cancellation of around 86 international and domestic flights on May 8 and 76 flights on May 9. In the termination letter sent to the 25 off-crew members, Air India Express said that their act "clearly points to a pre-meditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason." Also Read: Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave', more than 80 flights cancelled "As a result of the above, a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which caused tremendous inconvenience to the Company's esteemed passengers. Your act is not only subversive of public interest, but has also caused embarrassment, severe reputational damage, and serious monetary loss to the Company," read the letter. "Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the Company. This is not only in violation of the applicable laws but also violates the Air India Express Limited Employees' Service Rules as are applicable to you," it added. According to the report, the management said that an ultimatum has been given to the employees to join work by 4 pm on May 9 or face action. Why did crew members go on 'mass sick leave'? Air India Express employees were protesting against the company's new employment terms, as per the reports. According to the reports, the crew allege that there is a lack of equality in the way the staff is treated. The employees claimed that few of them were offered lower job roles even though they cleared interviews for senior positions. The employees had also raised concerns regarding some modifications in their compensation package. Such developments continue to take place as the airline remains involved in a merger with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). Watch: Air India Express chaos: Nearly 300 crew go on 'mass sick leave', more than 80 flights cancelled The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU), an organisation representing the crew members, in a letter, wrote about the "stark departure from commitments". The union further accused Air India Express of mismanagement and treating employees unequally. Reacting to the current scenario, an Air India Express spokesperson said, “Air India Express is making every possible effort to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected situation. We will be operating 292 flights today. We have mobilised all resources and Air India will support us by operating on 20 of our routes. However, 74 of our flights stand cancelled and we urge our guests booked to fly with us to check if their flight is affected by the disruption before heading to the airport. If their flight is cancelled, or delayed beyond 3 hours, they may opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any fees on Tia on WhatsApp (+91 6360012345) or on airindiaexpress.com.: "While we will continue to engage with our cabin crew colleagues with a commitment to address any concern, we are taking appropriate steps against certain individuals as their actions have caused grave inconvenience to thousands of our guests," the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express sacks crew members over 'pre-meditated' mass sick leave

Air India Express management on Thursday (May 9), following a meeting that went on for about four and half hours, came up with a decision to overturn the termination of 25 crew members and restore normal operations.

The meeting took place between the representatives of Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) and airline management where the decision to put an end to the strike and withdrawal of the termination letters was agreed upon. It was held at the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC).

As per news agency PTI, there will be another meeting again between both parties on May 28 where the issues will be discussed.

After a detailed discussion, following the appeal of the Conciliation Officer and the Chief Labour Commissioner, the union representatives agreed that "all the cabin crew members who have reported sick will report for duty with fitness certificate immediately," reported PTI citing a document signed by the representatives of the union and the airline.

"On appeal of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), the management agreed to reinstate 25 cabin crew who have been terminated on May 7 and 8, 2024 for reporting sick as a concerted action immediately."

"The management will review the cases of these crew as per service regulations," it said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-express-sacks-crew-members-over-mass-sick-leave-calls-it-pre-meditated-719547">Also read:&nbsp;Air India Express sacks crew members over 'pre-meditated' mass sick leave</a>

Earlier in the day, Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions.&nbsp;

The mass sick leave led to the cancellation of around 86 international and domestic flights on May 8 and 76 flights on May 9.

In the termination letter sent to the 25 off-crew members, Air India Express said that their act "clearly points to a pre-meditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason."

"As a result of the above, a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which caused tremendous inconvenience to the Company's esteemed passengers. Your act is not only subversive of public interest, but has also caused embarrassment, severe reputational damage, and serious monetary loss to the Company," the letter said.

"Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the Company. This is not only in violation of the applicable laws but also violates the Air India Express Limited Employees' Service Rules as are applicable to you," it added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express management on Thursday (May 9), following a meeting that went on for about four and half hours, came up with a decision to overturn the termination of 25 crew members and restore normal operations.

Air India Express management on Thursday (May 9), following a meeting that went on for about four and half hours, came up with a decision to overturn the termination of 25 crew members and restore normal operations. The meeting took place between the representatives of Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) and airline management where the decision to put an end to the strike and withdrawal of the termination letters was agreed upon. It was held at the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC). As per news agency PTI, there will be another meeting again between both parties on May 28 where the issues will be discussed. After a detailed discussion, following the appeal of the Conciliation Officer and the Chief Labour Commissioner, the union representatives agreed that "all the cabin crew members who have reported sick will report for duty with fitness certificate immediately," reported PTI citing a document signed by the representatives of the union and the airline. "On appeal of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), the management agreed to reinstate 25 cabin crew who have been terminated on May 7 and 8, 2024 for reporting sick as a concerted action immediately." "The management will review the cases of these crew as per service regulations," it said. Also read: Air India Express sacks crew members over 'pre-meditated' mass sick leave Earlier in the day, Air India Express fired nearly 25 cabin crew after around 300 employees went on 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones, causing large-scale flight disruptions. The mass sick leave led to the cancellation of around 86 international and domestic flights on May 8 and 76 flights on May 9. In the termination letter sent to the 25 off-crew members, Air India Express said that their act "clearly points to a pre-meditated and concerted abstention from work without any justifiable reason." "As a result of the above, a large number of flights had to be cancelled, thereby disrupting the entire schedule, which caused tremendous inconvenience to the Company's esteemed passengers. Your act is not only subversive of public interest, but has also caused embarrassment, severe reputational damage, and serious monetary loss to the Company," the letter said. "Your act of reporting sick for work amounts to a concerted action with a common understanding, to not operate the flight and to disrupt services of the Company. This is not only in violation of the applicable laws but also violates the Air India Express Limited Employees' Service Rules as are applicable to you," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

Air India Express revokes termination of 25 crew members

Air India on thursday sacked 25 employees after they failed to turn up for work. The action comes a day after mass sick leave by over 200 employees.

Air India terminates 25 employees

At least 70 international and domestic Air India Express flights were cancelled after senior crew members reported sick overnight without notice. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has sought a report from Air India Express regarding the cancellations and asked the airline to resolve issues promptly.

Air India Express cancels 70 flights due to alleged crew protest

Air India Express and AIX Connect, subsidiaries of the Tata-owned Air India Group, have launched a unified brand identity under the name "Air India Express." This new identity was introduced on the latest Boeing B737-8 aircraft during its flight from Hyderabad to Mumbai, highlighting a significant milestone, Deccan Herald reported.&nbsp;

The rebranding features a fresh visual identity with the Tata Group selecting orange and turquoise as primary colours, complemented by tangerine and ice blue as secondary colours, following Air India's recent brand makeover.&nbsp;

The integrated entity of Air India Express and AirAsia India will now operate solely as Air India Express, marking the end of the AIX India brand. The report by Deccan Herald cited Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, clarified that while designator codes IX and I5 will persist for some time, all services, sales, and distribution will consolidate under the unified Air India Express brand.&nbsp;

Two B-737-8 aircraft, out of a total order of 470, have already joined Air India Express' fleet. These aircraft will soon begin commercial operations, with the first flight scheduled on the Delhi-Guwahati-Imphal route on October 19.&nbsp;

Air India Express is set to expand ambitiously, planning to induct 50 new aircraft into its fleet within the next 15 months. This expansion will see the airline double in size over the next five years, targeting a fleet of about 170 narrow-body aircraft. The airline is also eyeing expansion into tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India, along with extending its reach to the Gulf, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.&nbsp;

According to a Times of India report, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India and Chairman of Air India Express, emphasised the magnitude of this expansion, noting that on average, the Air India Group will take delivery of one new aircraft every six days until the end of 2024. He also mentioned that the merger of AirAsia India and Air India Express is progressing well, along with the planning and approvals for the merger of Air India and Vistara. Simultaneously, India's largest training academy is making substantial progress in its development.&nbsp;

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Air India Express and AIX Connect, subsidiaries of the Tata-owned Air India Group, have launched a unified brand identity under the name "Air India Express." This new identity was introduced on the latest Boeing B737-8 aircraft during its flight from Hyderabad to Mumbai, highlighting a significant milestone, Deccan Herald reported.

Air India Express and AIX Connect, subsidiaries of the Tata-owned Air India Group, have launched a unified brand identity under the name "Air India Express." This new identity was introduced on the latest Boeing B737-8 aircraft during its flight from Hyderabad to Mumbai, highlighting a significant milestone, Deccan Herald reported. The rebranding features a fresh visual identity with the Tata Group selecting orange and turquoise as primary colours, complemented by tangerine and ice blue as secondary colours, following Air India's recent brand makeover. The integrated entity of Air India Express and AirAsia India will now operate solely as Air India Express, marking the end of the AIX India brand. The report by Deccan Herald cited Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, clarified that while designator codes IX and I5 will persist for some time, all services, sales, and distribution will consolidate under the unified Air India Express brand. Two B-737-8 aircraft, out of a total order of 470, have already joined Air India Express' fleet. These aircraft will soon begin commercial operations, with the first flight scheduled on the Delhi-Guwahati-Imphal route on October 19. Air India Express is set to expand ambitiously, planning to induct 50 new aircraft into its fleet within the next 15 months. This expansion will see the airline double in size over the next five years, targeting a fleet of about 170 narrow-body aircraft. The airline is also eyeing expansion into tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India, along with extending its reach to the Gulf, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. According to a Times of India report, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India and Chairman of Air India Express, emphasised the magnitude of this expansion, noting that on average, the Air India Group will take delivery of one new aircraft every six days until the end of 2024. He also mentioned that the merger of AirAsia India and Air India Express is progressing well, along with the planning and approvals for the merger of Air India and Vistara. Simultaneously, India's largest training academy is making substantial progress in its development. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Air India Express unveils new identity and bold expansion plans 

An Amritsar-bound Air India Flight made an emergency landing at the Karachi airport on Saturday (Oct 14) after an onboard guest had a sudden medical complication during the journey.&nbsp;

The Air India Express flight departed from Dubai at 8:51 am (local time) and&nbsp;it was supposed to reach Amritsar, a city in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab.&nbsp;

However, it was diverted to Pakistan, landing in Karachi at 12:30 pm (local time).&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bjp-mp-claims-mahua-moitra-took-bribes-to-ask-questions-in-parliament-tmc-leader-welcomes-probe-647284">BJP MP claims Mahua Moitra took bribes to ask questions in Parliament; TMC leader welcomes probe</a>&nbsp;

The Air India Express spokesperson said that the crew opted to divert the flight to Karachi as it was the closest location to provide the guest with immediate medical assistance.&nbsp;

As quoted by India-based news agency ANI, the Air India Express spokesperson said, "A guest on board our Dubai-Amritsar flight had a sudden medical complication inflight (on 14th October), and the crew opted to divert to Karachi, given that it was the closest location to provide immediate medical assistance."&nbsp;

"The flight departed from Dubai at 08.51 AM local time and landed in Karachi at 12.30 PM local time. The airline closely coordinated with the airport and local authorities, and the guest was provided immediate medical services after landing," the spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tallest-statue-of-br-ambedkar-unveiled-outside-india-in-us-heres-why-oct-14-was-chosen-647224">Tallest statue of BR Ambedkar unveiled outside India in US. Here’s why Oct 14 was chosen</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Bengaluru reports 12,600 cybercrime cases | Online job scam fraud in Bengaluru&nbsp;

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"The airport doctor at Karachi administered the required medication and after medical assessment, the pax was cleared to fly by the airport medical team. The flight departed from Karachi at 2.30 PM local time on its way to Amritsar," the spokesperson added.&nbsp;

The airline spokesperson also extended gratitude to the local authorities at Karachi airport for their help during the emergency situation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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An Amritsar-bound Air India Flight made an emergency landing at the Karachi airport on Saturday (Oct 14) after an onboard guest had a sudden medical complication during the journey.

An Amritsar-bound Air India Flight made an emergency landing at the Karachi airport on Saturday (Oct 14) after an onboard guest had a sudden medical complication during the journey. The Air India Express flight departed from Dubai at 8:51 am (local time) and it was supposed to reach Amritsar, a city in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab. However, it was diverted to Pakistan, landing in Karachi at 12:30 pm (local time). Also read: BJP MP claims Mahua Moitra took bribes to ask questions in Parliament; TMC leader welcomes probe The Air India Express spokesperson said that the crew opted to divert the flight to Karachi as it was the closest location to provide the guest with immediate medical assistance. As quoted by India-based news agency ANI, the Air India Express spokesperson said, "A guest on board our Dubai-Amritsar flight had a sudden medical complication inflight (on 14th October), and the crew opted to divert to Karachi, given that it was the closest location to provide immediate medical assistance." "The flight departed from Dubai at 08.51 AM local time and landed in Karachi at 12.30 PM local time. The airline closely coordinated with the airport and local authorities, and the guest was provided immediate medical services after landing," the spokesperson said. Also read: Tallest statue of BR Ambedkar unveiled outside India in US. Here’s why Oct 14 was chosen Watch: Bengaluru reports 12,600 cybercrime cases | Online job scam fraud in Bengaluru × "The airport doctor at Karachi administered the required medication and after medical assessment, the pax was cleared to fly by the airport medical team. The flight departed from Karachi at 2.30 PM local time on its way to Amritsar," the spokesperson added. The airline spokesperson also extended gratitude to the local authorities at Karachi airport for their help during the emergency situation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Air India Express flight diverted to Karachi due to medical emergency

After flames were detected in one of its engines, a Calicut-bound Air India Express B737-80 aircraft from Abu Dhabi had to make an emergency landing back at Abu Dhabi airport, the country's aviation regulatory body said Friday.&nbsp;

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement said the flight which had a total of 184 passengers on board landed safely and none of the passengers was hurt during the incident.

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Air India Express told ANI news agency that soon after taking off, the pilot detected a flame when the plane was at about 1,000 feet high. The airline said that the fire was detected in one of the engines and hence the people in charge made the decision to land the flight back to Abu Dhabi airport.&nbsp;

"Today an Air India Express B737-800 aircraft VT-AYC operating flight IX 348 (Abu Dhabi-Calicut) was involved in Airturnback due to the No. 1 engine flameout at 1,000 ft during the climb," DGCA said in a statement.&nbsp;

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In another incident earlier on 23 January, an Air India Express flight from Trivandrum to Muscat suffered a technical glitch. After the snag was detected, the flight was immediately landed, around 45 minutes after taking off. "The flight took off from Trivandrum at 8.30 am and landed back at 9.17 am," the officials added.

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-operation-miracle-save-the-oceans-rarest-marine-mammal-wion-climate-tracker-558397">Will 'Operation Miracle' save the ocean's rarest marine mammal?&nbsp;</a>

Not just technical snags and engine flameouts, in December 2022, a snake was found on a Dubai-bound Air India Express flight. However, the report of a snake on board came when the flight had already landed the Dubai airport. A probe was initiated into the matter by the aviation regulatory body.&nbsp;

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After flames were detected in one of its engines, a Calicut-bound Air India Express B737-80 aircraft from Abu Dhabi had to make an emergency landing back at Abu Dhabi airport, the country's aviation regulatory body said Friday.

After flames were detected in one of its engines, a Calicut-bound Air India Express B737-80 aircraft from Abu Dhabi had to make an emergency landing back at Abu Dhabi airport, the country's aviation regulatory body said Friday. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a statement said the flight which had a total of 184 passengers on board landed safely and none of the passengers was hurt during the incident. Also Read | Democrat Ilhan Omar ousted from House Foreign Affairs Committee for her anti-Semitic comments Air India Express told ANI news agency that soon after taking off, the pilot detected a flame when the plane was at about 1,000 feet high. The airline said that the fire was detected in one of the engines and hence the people in charge made the decision to land the flight back to Abu Dhabi airport. "Today an Air India Express B737-800 aircraft VT-AYC operating flight IX 348 (Abu Dhabi-Calicut) was involved in Airturnback due to the No. 1 engine flameout at 1,000 ft during the climb," DGCA said in a statement. Also Read | EU Parliament waives immunity from prosecution of two lawmakers in bribery scam probe In another incident earlier on 23 January, an Air India Express flight from Trivandrum to Muscat suffered a technical glitch. After the snag was detected, the flight was immediately landed, around 45 minutes after taking off. "The flight took off from Trivandrum at 8.30 am and landed back at 9.17 am," the officials added. Watch | Will 'Operation Miracle' save the ocean's rarest marine mammal? Not just technical snags and engine flameouts, in December 2022, a snake was found on a Dubai-bound Air India Express flight. However, the report of a snake on board came when the flight had already landed the Dubai airport. A probe was initiated into the matter by the aviation regulatory body. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Calicut-bound Air India Express flight catches fire mid-air, lands back at Abu Dhabi airport

A passenger plane carrying 190 passengers had crashed at the Calicut airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala last year. Now, an investigation has concluded that the crash might have happened due to 'human error'.<o:p></o:p>

The Air India Express was bringing 190 passengers from Dubai to India as part of repatriation flights in times of the Covid pandemic. <o:p></o:p>

During landing, the Boeing 737 skidded off the runway in rain and crashed landed by breaking in two parts. The crash ended up taking lives of 21 people, including both the pilots and injured nearly 75 passengers.

The extensive probe report cited several factors that led to the tragedy. Here are the main points:

<o:p>Bad weather</o:p>

The aircraft was attempting to land repeatedly in bad weather. First attempt was aborted as the pilots did not find the appropriate conditions to land the plane. However, in their final attempt, the investigators claim, the pilots ended up making several violations.

In such bad weather, a miss on the runway can lead to a disastrous outcome, like the one observed during the Calicut crash.

<o:p>Inadequate briefing</o:p>

The report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau claims that the pilots did not carry out "adequate briefing" for landing with tailwinds in the poor weather. The experts believe that a failure to "quickly calculate accurate landing data in adverse weather conditions" led to the deadly crash.

<o:p>In addition, the pilots also failed to "make the mandatory announcement for the cabin crew to be seated on the first approach for landing... This is a very serious omission and compromises cabin crew".</o:p>

The pilot also failed to follow the proper protocol and instead of aborting the landing mission, he continued to descend the plane in unstabilised conditions.&nbsp;

"The probable cause of the accident was the non-adherence to standard operating procedures by the pilot flying, wherein, he continued an unstabilised approach and landed beyond the touchdown zone, halfway down the runway, in spite of a go around call by the pilot monitoring, which warranted a mandatory go around and the failure of the pilot monitoring to take over controls and execute a go around," the report said.

Faulty parts

The windshield wiper of the aircraft was also not functioning properly, the report claims. Experts have concluded that windshield wiper on the PIC side stopped functioning. The pilot in command (PIC) was also recorded giving an unusual detailed briefing to&nbsp;flight officer (FO), which raises doubts that the crew was already familiar with the unreliable windshield but had failed to raise the issue.

<o:p>Landing in heavy rain with a faulty wiper was not an ideal approach and should have been avoided or delayed, the experts believe.</o:p>

Compromise on safety

The pilots and the crew members were seasoned experts who were aware of the Indian monsoon. Even then, the PIC continued for second approach of the&nbsp;Kozhikode runway without assessing the risk involved, the report claims. The FO, too, ignored the violation of the SOP.

In addition to this, the Pilot Monitoring failed to make the mandatory announcement for the cabin crew to be seated during the first approach to the&nbsp;Kozhikode runway, which results in another omission of SOP and puts the lives of cabin crew in danger.

The pilot, experts believe, should have assessed the risk involved due to the Indian monsoon and decided to not to divert even after the 'missed approach'. This decision was taken by the pilots&nbsp;even though alternate airfields were available and the aircraft had enough fuel to redirect.

Unprescribed medicines, cognitive deficits

The report has also hinted that there might be a possibility that the PIC was taking some unprescribed medicines that may have "caused subtle cognitive deficits".

Experts said the PIC was taking anti-diabetic drugs which were not prescribed to him by any doctor and those may have caused&nbsp;mild hypoglycaemia.

This&nbsp;"probably contributed to errors in complex decision making as well as susceptibility to perceptual errors. The possibility of visual illusions causing errors in distance and depth perception cannot be ruled out due to degraded visual cues of orientation due to low visibility and sub optimal performance of the PIC's windshield wiper in rain," the report claims.

Human errors and system failures have contributed to the crash of the aircraft, as per experts. "These usually occur due to prevailing safety culture that give rise to errors, mistakes and violation of routine tasks performed by people operating within the system," the report says.<o:p></o:p>

A passenger plane carrying 190 passengers had crashed at the Calicut airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala last year. Now, an investigation has concluded that the crash might have happened due to 'human error'.

A passenger plane carrying 190 passengers had crashed at the Calicut airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala last year. Now, an investigation has concluded that the crash might have happened due to 'human error'. The Air India Express was bringing 190 passengers from Dubai to India as part of repatriation flights in times of the Covid pandemic. During landing, the Boeing 737 skidded off the runway in rain and crashed landed by breaking in two parts. The crash ended up taking lives of 21 people, including both the pilots and injured nearly 75 passengers. The extensive probe report cited several factors that led to the tragedy. Here are the main points: Bad weather The aircraft was attempting to land repeatedly in bad weather. First attempt was aborted as the pilots did not find the appropriate conditions to land the plane. However, in their final attempt, the investigators claim, the pilots ended up making several violations. In such bad weather, a miss on the runway can lead to a disastrous outcome, like the one observed during the Calicut crash. Inadequate briefing The report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau claims that the pilots did not carry out "adequate briefing" for landing with tailwinds in the poor weather. The experts believe that a failure to "quickly calculate accurate landing data in adverse weather conditions" led to the deadly crash. In addition, the pilots also failed to "make the mandatory announcement for the cabin crew to be seated on the first approach for landing... This is a very serious omission and compromises cabin crew". The pilot also failed to follow the proper protocol and instead of aborting the landing mission, he continued to descend the plane in unstabilised conditions. "The probable cause of the accident was the non-adherence to standard operating procedures by the pilot flying, wherein, he continued an unstabilised approach and landed beyond the touchdown zone, halfway down the runway, in spite of a go around call by the pilot monitoring, which warranted a mandatory go around and the failure of the pilot monitoring to take over controls and execute a go around," the report said. Faulty parts The windshield wiper of the aircraft was also not functioning properly, the report claims. Experts have concluded that windshield wiper on the PIC side stopped functioning. The pilot in command (PIC) was also recorded giving an unusual detailed briefing to flight officer (FO), which raises doubts that the crew was already familiar with the unreliable windshield but had failed to raise the issue. Landing in heavy rain with a faulty wiper was not an ideal approach and should have been avoided or delayed, the experts believe. Compromise on safety The pilots and the crew members were seasoned experts who were aware of the Indian monsoon. Even then, the PIC continued for second approach of the Kozhikode runway without assessing the risk involved, the report claims. The FO, too, ignored the violation of the SOP. In addition to this, the Pilot Monitoring failed to make the mandatory announcement for the cabin crew to be seated during the first approach to the Kozhikode runway, which results in another omission of SOP and puts the lives of cabin crew in danger. The pilot, experts believe, should have assessed the risk involved due to the Indian monsoon and decided to not to divert even after the 'missed approach'. This decision was taken by the pilots even though alternate airfields were available and the aircraft had enough fuel to redirect. Unprescribed medicines, cognitive deficits The report has also hinted that there might be a possibility that the PIC was taking some unprescribed medicines that may have "caused subtle cognitive deficits". Experts said the PIC was taking anti-diabetic drugs which were not prescribed to him by any doctor and those may have caused mild hypoglycaemia. This "probably contributed to errors in complex decision making as well as susceptibility to perceptual errors. The possibility of visual illusions causing errors in distance and depth perception cannot be ruled out due to degraded visual cues of orientation due to low visibility and sub optimal performance of the PIC's windshield wiper in rain," the report claims. Human errors and system failures have contributed to the crash of the aircraft, as per experts. "These usually occur due to prevailing safety culture that give rise to errors, mistakes and violation of routine tasks performed by people operating within the system," the report says.

Calicut: Air India Express crashed because of 'human error' of pilots, report claims

Air India Express on Wednesday said 85 passengers injured in the plane crash in Kozhikode have been discharged from hospitals after "obtaining complete fitness".

Moreover, the airline said its contract service provider Kenyon International arrived at Kozhikode on Monday and has started the process of "search and retrieval" of the baggage belonging to the crew and passengers who were in the aircraft.

The US-based company is conducting its process with the help of Air India officials, it added. Air India Express is a wholly owned subsidiary of national carrier Air India.

"We will ensure that all the baggage retrieved is handed over to the passengers and family in due course, after the cleaning and sanitisation process," the airline noted.

The Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people on board, including a six-member crew, overshot the tabletop runway during landing at the Kozhikode airport in heavy rain on Friday night.

It fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into pieces, killing 18 people including the two pilots.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said on Saturday that 149 people have been admitted to hospitals, 23 discharged, while three were critically injured in the plane crash.

The injured passengers of IX-1344 flight are being treated at various hospitals of Kozhikode, the airline said.

"As on date, 85 injured passengers have been discharged from various hospitals after obtaining their complete fitness," it added.

Air India Express has only B737 aircraft in its fleet.

The airline had said on Sunday the mortal remains of 16 passengers killed in the plane crash have been handed over to their families, and added that authorities were investigating the accident.&nbsp;

Air India Express on Wednesday said 85 passengers injured in the plane crash in Kozhikode have been discharged from hospitals after "obtaining complete fitness".

Air India Express on Wednesday said 85 passengers injured in the plane crash in Kozhikode have been discharged from hospitals after "obtaining complete fitness". Moreover, the airline said its contract service provider Kenyon International arrived at Kozhikode on Monday and has started the process of "search and retrieval" of the baggage belonging to the crew and passengers who were in the aircraft. The US-based company is conducting its process with the help of Air India officials, it added. Air India Express is a wholly owned subsidiary of national carrier Air India. "We will ensure that all the baggage retrieved is handed over to the passengers and family in due course, after the cleaning and sanitisation process," the airline noted. The Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people on board, including a six-member crew, overshot the tabletop runway during landing at the Kozhikode airport in heavy rain on Friday night. It fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into pieces, killing 18 people including the two pilots. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said on Saturday that 149 people have been admitted to hospitals, 23 discharged, while three were critically injured in the plane crash. The injured passengers of IX-1344 flight are being treated at various hospitals of Kozhikode, the airline said. "As on date, 85 injured passengers have been discharged from various hospitals after obtaining their complete fitness," it added. Air India Express has only B737 aircraft in its fleet. The airline had said on Sunday the mortal remains of 16 passengers killed in the plane crash have been handed over to their families, and added that authorities were investigating the accident.

Kozhikode plane crash: 85 injured passengers discharged from hospitals, says AI Express

A major mishap at India Kozhikode airport has left 18 people dead and over 100 injured after an Air India Express aircraft arriving from Dubai crashed at Calicut International Airport. Watch report.

Calicut Plane Crash: 18 dead in the crash, What is a tabletop runway?

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders from across the political spectrum expressed anguish on Friday over the Air India Express aircraft accident in Kozhikode and offered condolences to the families of those killed in the tragedy.

At least 16 people were killed and several others injured when a Dubai-Calicut Air India Express flight with 191 passengers and crew members on board overshot the runway at the airport in Kozhikode and fell into a valley, breaking into two portions, police sources said.

President Kovind said he was deeply distressed to hear about the tragic plane accident and his thoughts and prayers were with the affected passengers, crew members and their families.

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Deeply distressed to hear about the tragic plane crash of Air India Express flight at Kozhikode, Kerala. Spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/KeralaGovernor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KeralaGovernor</a> Shri Arif Mohammed Khan and inquired about the situation. Thoughts and prayers with affected passengers, crew members and their families.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1291778492774793216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Kovind said he spoke to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and enquired about the situation there.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said he was deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the tragic air mishap.

"My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dear ones in the crash &amp; prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed anguish at the Air India Express aircraft accident and said authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected.

He also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in this regard.

"Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest," the prime minister tweeted.

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Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Kerala CM <a href="https://twitter.com/vijayanpinarayi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vijayanpinarayi</a> Ji regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1291775276599263233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected, Modi said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was "deeply distressed" to hear about the tragedy at Kozhikode.

"Prayers are with the bereaved families and those injured. We are ascertaining further details," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives due to an accident.

"In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed shock at the news of the flight skidding off the tabletop runway and offered condolences to the families of those who died in the accident.

"Shocked at the devastating news of the plane mishap in Kozhikode. Deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who died in this accident. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said on Twitter.

"My thoughts are with the crew, the passengers and their families and friends at this time," he said.

Congress general secretary, in-charge organization, KC Venugopal described it as a "shocking incident" and said the governments must take all necessary measures for emergency rescue and help.

"I have already requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to order an immediate enquiry to find out the exact reasons behind the shocking accident. Emergency medical care and assistance should be ensured for the injured and financial assistance should be declared for the deceased," he said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "My heart goes out to the crew and passengers of the Air India plane that has crashed in Calicut and to their families. Our prayers are with you at this tragic and painful moment."

BJP leader and former Union minister Alphons K J said this was the second tragedy of the day in Kerala after the landslide in Rajamalai.

"Air India Express skids off the run way at Kozhikode, front portion splits, pilot dies and lots of passengers injured. All passengers evacuated. Very lucky the aircraft didn't catch fire," he said on Twitter.

The mishap occurred at 1941 hours. No fire was reported at the time of landing, an AIE statement said. 
Police said the dead included the plane's pilot.

There were 174 passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and five cabin crew on board the aircraft, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.&nbsp;

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders from across the political spectrum expressed anguish on Friday over the Air India Express aircraft accident in Kozhikode and offered condolences to the families of those killed in the tragedy.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with leaders from across the political spectrum expressed anguish on Friday over the Air India Express aircraft accident in Kozhikode and offered condolences to the families of those killed in the tragedy. At least 16 people were killed and several others injured when a Dubai-Calicut Air India Express flight with 191 passengers and crew members on board overshot the runway at the airport in Kozhikode and fell into a valley, breaking into two portions, police sources said. President Kovind said he was deeply distressed to hear about the tragic plane accident and his thoughts and prayers were with the affected passengers, crew members and their families. Deeply distressed to hear about the tragic plane crash of Air India Express flight at Kozhikode, Kerala. Spoke to @KeralaGovernor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan and inquired about the situation. Thoughts and prayers with affected passengers, crew members and their families. — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 7, 2020 × Kovind said he spoke to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and enquired about the situation there. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said he was deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the tragic air mishap. "My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their dear ones in the crash & prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed anguish at the Air India Express aircraft accident and said authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected. He also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in this regard. "Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest," the prime minister tweeted. Pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Kerala CM @vijayanpinarayi Ji regarding the situation. Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2020 × Authorities are at the spot, providing all assistance to the affected, Modi said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was "deeply distressed" to hear about the tragedy at Kozhikode. "Prayers are with the bereaved families and those injured. We are ascertaining further details," Jaishankar said in a tweet. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives due to an accident. "In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed shock at the news of the flight skidding off the tabletop runway and offered condolences to the families of those who died in the accident. "Shocked at the devastating news of the plane mishap in Kozhikode. Deepest condolences to the friends and family of those who died in this accident. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said on Twitter. "My thoughts are with the crew, the passengers and their families and friends at this time," he said. Congress general secretary, in-charge organization, KC Venugopal described it as a "shocking incident" and said the governments must take all necessary measures for emergency rescue and help. "I have already requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to order an immediate enquiry to find out the exact reasons behind the shocking accident. Emergency medical care and assistance should be ensured for the injured and financial assistance should be declared for the deceased," he said. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "My heart goes out to the crew and passengers of the Air India plane that has crashed in Calicut and to their families. Our prayers are with you at this tragic and painful moment." BJP leader and former Union minister Alphons K J said this was the second tragedy of the day in Kerala after the landslide in Rajamalai. "Air India Express skids off the run way at Kozhikode, front portion splits, pilot dies and lots of passengers injured. All passengers evacuated. Very lucky the aircraft didn't catch fire," he said on Twitter. The mishap occurred at 1941 hours. No fire was reported at the time of landing, an AIE statement said. Police said the dead included the plane's pilot. There were 174 passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and five cabin crew on board the aircraft, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

Kerala plane tragedy: Prez, VP, PM express sadness, condole loss of lives

India's ministry of civil <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsf-reports-more-coronavirus-cases-delhi-records-13-deaths-in-last-24-hours-298200">aviation </a>issued guidelines today stating that people above 80 years of age will be restricted from travel in phase I of flight resumption.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/need-globalisation-template-based-on-fairness-indian-envoy-on-covid-19-298135">Also Read:&nbsp;'Need globalisation template based on fairness': Indian envoy</a>

The flight SOP issued by the ministry includes no cabin baggage in the initial phase with checked-in baggage to be only one piece. According to the ministry, if the Aarogya Setu app does not reflect "green" then the passenger won't be allowed to enter the airport terminal.

Expanding further, the civil aviation ministry said that Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express is operating 64 flights to twelve countries including UK, US, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

"6,037 citizens have been flown back to India in 31 inbound flights operated by Air India and Air India Express under Vande Bharat Mission in five days beginning from May 7," the ministry said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Indian Railways said that a total of 575 “Shramik Special” trains have begun operating in various states with 463 trains having reached its destination and 112 trains in transit.

A special train left from New Delhi railway station for Dibrugarh in Assam today with Railways resuming services for 15 pairs of special air-conditioned trains. A special train also left for Chhattisgarh from the national capital on Tuesday.

On the movement of trains, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: "Nine trains are coming to West Bengal, one is coming today. We are considering the movement of a hundred more trains."

In Punjab, the sixth special train carrying 1,201 migrant workers left for Chhapra in Bihar.

(With ANI inputs)

India's ministry of civil aviation issued guidelines today stating that people above 80 years of age will be restricted from travel in phase I of flight resumption.

India's ministry of civil aviation issued guidelines today stating that people above 80 years of age will be restricted from travel in phase I of flight resumption. Also Read: 'Need globalisation template based on fairness': Indian envoy The flight SOP issued by the ministry includes no cabin baggage in the initial phase with checked-in baggage to be only one piece. According to the ministry, if the Aarogya Setu app does not reflect "green" then the passenger won't be allowed to enter the airport terminal. Expanding further, the civil aviation ministry said that Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express is operating 64 flights to twelve countries including UK, US, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. "6,037 citizens have been flown back to India in 31 inbound flights operated by Air India and Air India Express under Vande Bharat Mission in five days beginning from May 7," the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Indian Railways said that a total of 575 “Shramik Special” trains have begun operating in various states with 463 trains having reached its destination and 112 trains in transit. A special train left from New Delhi railway station for Dibrugarh in Assam today with Railways resuming services for 15 pairs of special air-conditioned trains. A special train also left for Chhattisgarh from the national capital on Tuesday. On the movement of trains, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: "Nine trains are coming to West Bengal, one is coming today. We are considering the movement of a hundred more trains." In Punjab, the sixth special train carrying 1,201 migrant workers left for Chhapra in Bihar. (With ANI inputs)

In first phase, India's aviation ministry restricts air travel for people over 80

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