Air India's Phuket-to-Delhi flight AI2379 briefly lost control of key flight surfaces during a mid-air incident on August 4, according to a preliminary Airbus analysis.

The Airbus A320 experienced pressure losses across all three hydraulic systems, temporarily affecting the aircraft's elevators and ailerons for around four seconds. The aircraft subsequently dropped approximately 300 feet before control was restored and it landed safely in Delhi. A total of 24 passengers and crew members were reported injured.

The incident was initially described as turbulence but has since been treated as a serious incident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the episode, with Airbus and France's BEA assisting in the technical assessment. Investigators are examining the aircraft's hydraulic systems, sensors, switches, wiring and maintenance records to determine what caused the simultaneous failures

Report: Phuket-Delhi Flight Lost Controls Mid-Air Briefly

Days after Lenskart controversies, Air India has also made similar headlines over its policies, rules and regulations for cabin crew. The row erupted after the internal grooming guidelines of Air India came online and went viral for objecting to sindoor, chooda, mangalsutra and more.<h3>Grooming policy of Air India for cabin crew</h3>As per the viral cabin crew handbook of the airlines, "Tikkas, sindoor of any colour on the forehead is not permitted." The viral posts also alleged that strict rules govern accessories and jewellery worn with the uniform. Only simple white or yellow gold bangles without design or stones are allowed, while bracelets, mixed-metal bangles, or embellished pieces are prohibited. The post further noted that staff were not permitted to wear wedding choora, religious or black threads, beads on the wrist, ankles, or forearms. Items such as chains, necklaces, and religious symbols, including mangalsutra, taali, threads, or beads, are also banned around the neck. In addition, nose pins, toe rings, anklets, sindoor, braces, birthstones, coloured stones, mehndi, and liquid vermillion are reportedly not allowed.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It appears that this problem runs much deeper. Here are some pictures from the Air India Cabin Crew Handbook. Bindi, Sindoor, Tilak etc not allowed. Why are they doing this so blatantly?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SocietyFromStreet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SocietyFromStreet</a> <a href="https://t.co/uqVRbXBwwF">pic.twitter.com/uqVRbXBwwF</a>&mdash; Pranav Mahajan (@pranavmahajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/pranavmahajan/status/2045359466577793321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Air India responds</h3>Meanwhile, in response to the viral handbook, Air India confirmed that airline crew members are completely allowed to wear bindis. The spokesperson claimed that the document on social media is an “outdated manual”. “Air India would like to clarify that its employees have the choice to wear a bindi. The images being circulated online are from an older manual that is no longer in use,” the spokesperson added. Earlier, Lenskart came under scrutiny over a similar controversy. The issue arose from a policy that allowed employees to wear a hijab while on duty but did not permit bindis or kalawa. The eyewear company later responded by introducing an updated in-store style guide for its staff.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/bank-holidays-april-20-26-branches-to-remain-shut-in-several-cities-find-out-if-your-city-on-list-1776675179677">Bank Holidays April 20–26: Branches to remain shut in several cities - Find out if your city on list</a>

The viral post noted that staff were not permitted to wear wedding choora, religious or black threads, beads on the wrist, ankles, or forearms. Items such as chains, necklaces, and religious symbols, including mangalsutra, taali, threads, or beads, are also banned around the neck.

Days after Lenskart controversies, Air India has also made similar headlines over its policies, rules and regulations for cabin crew. The row erupted after the internal grooming guidelines of Air India came online and went viral for objecting to sindoor, chooda, mangalsutra and more. Grooming policy of Air India for cabin crew As per the viral cabin crew handbook of the airlines, "Tikkas, sindoor of any colour on the forehead is not permitted." The viral posts also alleged that strict rules govern accessories and jewellery worn with the uniform. Only simple white or yellow gold bangles without design or stones are allowed, while bracelets, mixed-metal bangles, or embellished pieces are prohibited. The post further noted that staff were not permitted to wear wedding choora, religious or black threads, beads on the wrist, ankles, or forearms. Items such as chains, necklaces, and religious symbols, including mangalsutra, taali, threads, or beads, are also banned around the neck. In addition, nose pins, toe rings, anklets, sindoor, braces, birthstones, coloured stones, mehndi, and liquid vermillion are reportedly not allowed.

The viral post noted that staff were not permitted to wear wedding choora, religious or black threads, beads on the wrist, ankles, or forearms. Items such as chains, necklaces, and religious symbols, including mangalsutra, taali, threads, or beads, are also banned around the neck.

After Lenskart rows, Air India comes under fire as grooming rules go viral on social media; airline reacts

An Air India flight was forced to return to Delhi on Sunday after the pilots received a fire warning in one of the engines soon after take off. In a statement, the airlines said the Flight AI2913, bound for Indore returned to the city after the pilots received a "fire indication" in the right engine of the aircraft.&nbsp;The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, which will soon take off for Indore.&nbsp;"Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on August 31, air-returned to Delhi shortly after take off, as the cockpit crew received a fire indication for the right engine," an Air India spokesperson said.&nbsp;Soon after the alarm went out, the crew shut down the affected engine, followed all safety protocols and brought the aircraft back to Delhi.&nbsp;“The aircraft has been grounded for inspection, and passengers are being transferred to an alternative aircraft, which will operate the flight to Indore shortly. The regulator has been duly informed of the incident. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” read the statement by Air India.&nbsp;The &nbsp;Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has been informed about the incident, according to the airline.

The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, said Air India spokesperson on the incident.

An Air India flight was forced to return to Delhi on Sunday after the pilots received a fire warning in one of the engines soon after take off. In a statement, the airlines said the Flight AI2913, bound for Indore returned to the city after the pilots received a "fire indication" in the right engine of the aircraft. The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, which will soon take off for Indore. "Flight AI2913, operating from Delhi to Indore on August 31, air-returned to Delhi shortly after take off, as the cockpit crew received a fire indication for the right engine," an Air India spokesperson said. Soon after the alarm went out, the crew shut down the affected engine, followed all safety protocols and brought the aircraft back to Delhi. “The aircraft has been grounded for inspection, and passengers are being transferred to an alternative aircraft, which will operate the flight to Indore shortly. The regulator has been duly informed of the incident. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. At Air India, the safety of passengers and crew is our top priority,” read the statement by Air India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has been informed about the incident, according to the airline.

The Air India flight has been grounded and passengers are being moved to a different aircraft, said Air India spokesperson on the incident.

Air India flight bound for Indore returns midway, after fire scare in on of the engines

An Air India flight carrying five members of the Indian Parliament, including Congress MP KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai on Sunday (Aug 10) night after a suspected technical fault. In a post on X, Venugopal later claimed that in a "heart stopping moment" the aircraft narrowly avoided disaster when "another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway" during its first landing attempt — a claim the airline has rejected.<h2>What happened?</h2>Flight AI 2455 took off from Thiruvananthapuram around 8 pm on August 10, bound for Delhi. Onboard the flight were four Kerala MPs - KC Venugopal, K. Radhakrishnan, Kodikkunnil Suresh, and Adoor Prakash. Tirunelveli MP C. Robert Bruce was also on the flight.In his X post, Venugopal claimed that "Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi - carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers - came frighteningly close to tragedy today." He said the plane encountered "unprecedented turbulence" shortly after takeoff, adding that about an hour into the flight, the captain reported a flight signal fault and diverted the flight to Chennai.Venugopal claims that the plane circled for nearly two hours before its first landing attempt. "Another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captain's quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt," he said, calling for a DGCA investigation to "investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again".<h2>Air India rejects Venugopal's claim</h2>Air India disputed that account, saying the go-around was ordered by Chennai air traffic control " not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway" but as part of standard procedure in response to "a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions". The airline said that the pilots "followed standard procedures throughout the flight". The airline said while it understands that "such an experience can be unsettling," safety was "always our priority".

After an Air India flight carrying five MPs, including KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai, the MP has claimed that the flight survived a near-miss with another aircraft. However, Air India has denied this. Here's all you need to know.

An Air India flight carrying five members of the Indian Parliament, including Congress MP KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai on Sunday (Aug 10) night after a suspected technical fault. In a post on X, Venugopal later claimed that in a "heart stopping moment" the aircraft narrowly avoided disaster when "another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway" during its first landing attempt — a claim the airline has rejected. What happened? Flight AI 2455 took off from Thiruvananthapuram around 8 pm on August 10, bound for Delhi. Onboard the flight were four Kerala MPs - KC Venugopal, K. Radhakrishnan, Kodikkunnil Suresh, and Adoor Prakash. Tirunelveli MP C. Robert Bruce was also on the flight. In his X post, Venugopal claimed that "Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi - carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers - came frighteningly close to tragedy today." He said the plane encountered "unprecedented turbulence" shortly after takeoff, adding that about an hour into the flight, the captain reported a flight signal fault and diverted the flight to Chennai. Venugopal claims that the plane circled for nearly two hours before its first landing attempt. "Another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captain's quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt," he said, calling for a DGCA investigation to "investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again". Air India rejects Venugopal's claim Air India disputed that account, saying the go-around was ordered by Chennai air traffic control " not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway" but as part of standard procedure in response to "a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions". The airline said that the pilots "followed standard procedures throughout the flight". The airline said while it understands that "such an experience can be unsettling," safety was "always our priority".

After an Air India flight carrying five MPs, including KC Venugopal, was diverted to Chennai, the MP has claimed that the flight survived a near-miss with another aircraft. However, Air India has denied this. Here's all you need to know.

'Another plane on runway’: Did MP KC Venugopal's flight to Delhi narrowly avoid disaster? Air India denies near-miss claim

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has reported a steep 58.8 per cent year-on-year decline in net profit for the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26, weighed down heavily by its investment in Air India and broader industry headwinds. Net income dropped to S$186 million (US$145 million) in the April-June quarter, down from S$266 million (US$206.7 million) in the same period last year, marking its weakest financial performance in nearly a year. The poor results triggered a sharp reaction from investors, with SIA shares plunging as much as 8.7 per cent in early trading in Singapore, the largest intraday drop since August 2024.The earnings slump is largely attributed to the airline’s 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, which it began consolidating into its financial statements following the completion of the Vistara-Air India merger in November 2024. This is the first full quarter that Air India’s financials have been accounted for within SIA’s consolidated results.<h2>Air India losses weigh heavily on SIA</h2>Air India has emerged as a major operational and financial drag on Singapore Airlines. The Tata-owned carrier reported a net loss of ₹10,859 crore (US$1.25 billion) in FY25, despite revenue of ₹78,636 crore (US$9 billion). This made it the largest loss-making entity within the Tata Group during the fiscal year. Singapore Airlines absorbed S$122 million (US$94 million) in losses from its associated companies during the quarter, most of which came from its share in Air India. This marked a significant reversal from the previous year, when such investments contributed positively to the bottom line.Operationally, Air India continues to face turbulence following the June crash of Flight 171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing over 240 passengers and crew. The disaster, considered the worst in Indian aviation in over three decades, has triggered regulatory scrutiny and forced short-term capacity reductions. Investigations are ongoing, and the fallout is expected to affect performance in the coming quarters.<h2>Broader industry pressures and strategic shifts</h2>Beyond the impact from Air India, Singapore Airlines is also contending with multiple macroeconomic and industry-specific headwinds. Passenger yields declined 2.9 per cent year-on-year, cargo revenue was down 1.9 per cent, and interest income dropped 15 per cent. Competitive fare pressures, weaker returns on cash reserves, and muted demand in certain segments have further squeezed margins.Despite these challenges, Singapore Airlines has outlined a cautious growth strategy. The carrier is adding new regional routes in Malaysia and the Philippines and has expanded its codeshare agreement with Air India. It maintains a positive long-term outlook, citing resilient travel demand across major markets, though it remains alert to geopolitical instability and economic volatility. The carrier's quarterly revenue increased marginally by 1.5 per cent to S$4.8 billion (US$3.73 billion), suggesting that core demand for air travel remains intact even amid broader global uncertainty.<h2>Mixed market reactions</h2>Analysts responded with a range of views. JPMorgan downgraded the stock to ‘neutral’ with a price target of S$7.00 (US$5.44), noting the results as a significant miss. Citigroup pointed to weaker core profitability, while Morgan Stanley projected some stabilisation in passenger yields in the coming quarters, which could ease pressure on earnings.The airline industry globally is sending mixed signals. American Airlines recently lowered its earnings outlook due to aggressive fare discounts, while competitors like Delta and United Airlines have reported more stable demand trends. Against this backdrop, SIA’s results offer a glimpse into the growing complexity facing Asia-Pacific carriers in a volatile market.Despite the ongoing headwinds, Singapore Airlines has reiterated its commitment to the Indian market. The group plans to continue supporting Air India’s transformation in collaboration with Tata Sons, even as the Indian carrier struggles with integration costs, operational inefficiencies, and stiff competition from domestic rival IndiGo, which now commands nearly two-thirds of India’s market share.

The earnings slump is largely attributed to Singapore Airlines’ 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, which it began consolidating into its financial statements following the completion of the Vistara-Air India merger in November 2024. 

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has reported a steep 58.8 per cent year-on-year decline in net profit for the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26, weighed down heavily by its investment in Air India and broader industry headwinds. Net income dropped to S$186 million (US$145 million) in the April-June quarter, down from S$266 million (US$206.7 million) in the same period last year, marking its weakest financial performance in nearly a year. The poor results triggered a sharp reaction from investors, with SIA shares plunging as much as 8.7 per cent in early trading in Singapore, the largest intraday drop since August 2024. The earnings slump is largely attributed to the airline’s 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, which it began consolidating into its financial statements following the completion of the Vistara-Air India merger in November 2024. This is the first full quarter that Air India’s financials have been accounted for within SIA’s consolidated results. Air India losses weigh heavily on SIA Air India has emerged as a major operational and financial drag on Singapore Airlines. The Tata-owned carrier reported a net loss of ₹10,859 crore (US$1.25 billion) in FY25, despite revenue of ₹78,636 crore (US$9 billion). This made it the largest loss-making entity within the Tata Group during the fiscal year. Singapore Airlines absorbed S$122 million (US$94 million) in losses from its associated companies during the quarter, most of which came from its share in Air India. This marked a significant reversal from the previous year, when such investments contributed positively to the bottom line. Operationally, Air India continues to face turbulence following the June crash of Flight 171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing over 240 passengers and crew. The disaster, considered the worst in Indian aviation in over three decades, has triggered regulatory scrutiny and forced short-term capacity reductions. Investigations are ongoing, and the fallout is expected to affect performance in the coming quarters. Broader industry pressures and strategic shifts Beyond the impact from Air India, Singapore Airlines is also contending with multiple macroeconomic and industry-specific headwinds. Passenger yields declined 2.9 per cent year-on-year, cargo revenue was down 1.9 per cent, and interest income dropped 15 per cent. Competitive fare pressures, weaker returns on cash reserves, and muted demand in certain segments have further squeezed margins. Despite these challenges, Singapore Airlines has outlined a cautious growth strategy. The carrier is adding new regional routes in Malaysia and the Philippines and has expanded its codeshare agreement with Air India. It maintains a positive long-term outlook, citing resilient travel demand across major markets, though it remains alert to geopolitical instability and economic volatility. The carrier's quarterly revenue increased marginally by 1.5 per cent to S$4.8 billion (US$3.73 billion), suggesting that core demand for air travel remains intact even amid broader global uncertainty. Mixed market reactions Analysts responded with a range of views. JPMorgan downgraded the stock to ‘neutral’ with a price target of S$7.00 (US$5.44), noting the results as a significant miss. Citigroup pointed to weaker core profitability, while Morgan Stanley projected some stabilisation in passenger yields in the coming quarters, which could ease pressure on earnings. The airline industry globally is sending mixed signals. American Airlines recently lowered its earnings outlook due to aggressive fare discounts, while competitors like Delta and United Airlines have reported more stable demand trends. Against this backdrop, SIA’s results offer a glimpse into the growing complexity facing Asia-Pacific carriers in a volatile market. Despite the ongoing headwinds, Singapore Airlines has reiterated its commitment to the Indian market. The group plans to continue supporting Air India’s transformation in collaboration with Tata Sons, even as the Indian carrier struggles with integration costs, operational inefficiencies, and stiff competition from domestic rival IndiGo, which now commands nearly two-thirds of India’s market share.

The earnings slump is largely attributed to Singapore Airlines’ 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, which it began consolidating into its financial statements following the completion of the Vistara-Air India merger in November 2024.&nbsp;

Singapore Airlines hit by sharp decline in profit amid Air India turbulence

An Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata was cancelled on Monday evening (July 21) after a technical issue was detected while the aircraft was accelerating on the runway at 155 km per hour. As per a NDTV report, the incident occurred at Delhi airport and involved an Airbus A321 aircraft with 160 passengers on board. The flight, scheduled to depart around 7:30 pm. All passengers were safely deboarded following the aborted takeoff. In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said, “Flight AI2403 operating from Delhi to Kolkata on 21 July 2025 has been rescheduled to depart later this evening, necessitated by a technical issue detected during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off, following Standard Operating Procedures. All passengers have disembarked, and our ground colleagues in Delhi are extending support to them. The inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen disruption is sincerely regretted. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers remain top priority.” Another spokesperson added, “Flight AI2403, operating from Delhi to Kolkata, was on the take-off roll when a technical issue was detected, leading the pilots to return to the taxiing bay.”&nbsp;Earlier on July 21, an Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai skidded on the runway while landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744, slipped during touchdown but was quickly brought under control by the pilots. All passengers and crew members onboard were safe and have since deboarded the aircraft. Information on injuries, if any, is still awaited. The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." In recent days, Mumbai has seen intense monsoon rain, which has led to waterlogging and delays across the city, including at its busy international airport.

The Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata aborted takeoff on Monday evening after a technical issue was detected while the aircraft was accelerating on the runway at 155 km per hour

An Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata was cancelled on Monday evening (July 21) after a technical issue was detected while the aircraft was accelerating on the runway at 155 km per hour. As per a NDTV report, the incident occurred at Delhi airport and involved an Airbus A321 aircraft with 160 passengers on board. The flight, scheduled to depart around 7:30 pm. All passengers were safely deboarded following the aborted takeoff. In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said, “Flight AI2403 operating from Delhi to Kolkata on 21 July 2025 has been rescheduled to depart later this evening, necessitated by a technical issue detected during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off, following Standard Operating Procedures. All passengers have disembarked, and our ground colleagues in Delhi are extending support to them. The inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen disruption is sincerely regretted. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers remain top priority.” Another spokesperson added, “Flight AI2403, operating from Delhi to Kolkata, was on the take-off roll when a technical issue was detected, leading the pilots to return to the taxiing bay.” Earlier on July 21, an Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai skidded on the runway while landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744, slipped during touchdown but was quickly brought under control by the pilots. All passengers and crew members onboard were safe and have since deboarded the aircraft. Information on injuries, if any, is still awaited. The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." In recent days, Mumbai has seen intense monsoon rain, which has led to waterlogging and delays across the city, including at its busy international airport.

The Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata aborted takeoff on Monday evening after a technical issue was detected while the aircraft was accelerating on the runway at 155 km per hour

Major accident averted! Air India pilots hit brakes of plane racing at 155 km/hr on runway: What happened next

An Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai had a scare on Monday (July 21) after it skidded on the runway while landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744, slipped during touchdown but was quickly brought under control by the pilots. All passengers and crew members onboard were safe and have since deboarded the aircraft. Information on injuries, if any, is still awaited. The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." In recent days, Mumbai has seen intense monsoon rain, which has led to waterlogging and delays across the city, including at its busy international airport.<h2>What did Air India say about the incident?</h2>In its statement, Air India said, “Flight AI2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on 21 July 2025, experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion after touchdown. The aircraft taxied safely to the gate and all passengers and crew members have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks. The safety of passengers and crew remain our top priority”.<h2>Was the plane damaged?</h2>As per a Hindustan Times report citing unnamed sources, three tyres of the aircraft may have burst during the landing. Minor damage has also been reported to the runway. In a statement, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport confirmed that "An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025". It said that emergency response teams were "immediately activated to manage the runway excursions," adding, "There are minor damages reported to the airport's primary runway - 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority". &nbsp;&nbsp;(More to follow)

The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." 

An Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai had a scare on Monday (July 21) after it skidded on the runway while landing amid heavy rains. The aircraft, operating as flight AI2744, slipped during touchdown but was quickly brought under control by the pilots. All passengers and crew members onboard were safe and have since deboarded the aircraft. Information on injuries, if any, is still awaited. The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority." In recent days, Mumbai has seen intense monsoon rain, which has led to waterlogging and delays across the city, including at its busy international airport. What did Air India say about the incident? In its statement, Air India said, “Flight AI2744, operating from Kochi to Mumbai on 21 July 2025, experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion after touchdown. The aircraft taxied safely to the gate and all passengers and crew members have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks. The safety of passengers and crew remain our top priority”. Was the plane damaged? As per a Hindustan Times report citing unnamed sources, three tyres of the aircraft may have burst during the landing. Minor damage has also been reported to the runway. In a statement, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport confirmed that "An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025". It said that emergency response teams were "immediately activated to manage the runway excursions," adding, "There are minor damages reported to the airport's primary runway - 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority". (More to follow)

The plane has been grounded and will undergo technical checks. In a brief statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority."&nbsp;

Air India flight from Kochi to Mumbai skids during landing amid heavy rain; aircraft grounded

The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) warned against jumping to conclusions in the June 12 Air India Flight 171 crash investigation. The plane crash in India's Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives. The caution warning comes amid media reports about the senior pilot cutting off fuel switches of both engines.&nbsp;“Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB’s public appeal, which was released Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB, said NTSB in a statement.&nbsp;The investigation into the Air India plane crash is being jointly carried out by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and NTSB.&nbsp;Last week, the &nbsp;Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released its preliminary investigation report that pointed towards confusion in the cockpit shortly before the June 12 crash. Most importantly the report said that the two fuel control switches aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were moved to the "cutoff" position just before the takeoff, cutting fuel to the engines.&nbsp;The switches were, however, restored about 10 seconds later, but till then the aircraft had lost thrust, leading to the crash.&nbsp;The two pilots involved were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.&nbsp;According to AAIB's preliminary report, First Officer Clive Kunder is heard asking Captain Sumeet Sabharwal why did he cutoff in the cockpit voice recording. Sabharwal responded by saying he did not do so.&nbsp;After the incident, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked all airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to examine the fuel switch locking systems. Air India completed the precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of fuel control switches (FCS) on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and found no problems. &nbsp;

The investigation into the Air India plane crash is being jointly carried out by Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and NTSB.

The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) warned against jumping to conclusions in the June 12 Air India Flight 171 crash investigation. The plane crash in India's Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives. The caution warning comes amid media reports about the senior pilot cutting off fuel switches of both engines. “Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB’s public appeal, which was released Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB, said NTSB in a statement. The investigation into the Air India plane crash is being jointly carried out by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and NTSB. Last week, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released its preliminary investigation report that pointed towards confusion in the cockpit shortly before the June 12 crash. Most importantly the report said that the two fuel control switches aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were moved to the "cutoff" position just before the takeoff, cutting fuel to the engines. The switches were, however, restored about 10 seconds later, but till then the aircraft had lost thrust, leading to the crash. The two pilots involved were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively. According to AAIB's preliminary report, First Officer Clive Kunder is heard asking Captain Sumeet Sabharwal why did he cutoff in the cockpit voice recording. Sabharwal responded by saying he did not do so. After the incident, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked all airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to examine the fuel switch locking systems. Air India completed the precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of fuel control switches (FCS) on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and found no problems.

The investigation into the Air India plane crash is being jointly carried out by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and NTSB.

Speculative & premature: Media reports 'blaming' pilot for Air India plane crash slammed by US transport safety body

The fatal Air India crash last month resuscitated a decade-long controversy in the airline industry over installing video cameras monitoring airline pilot actions to complement the cockpit voice and flight data recorders already employed by crash investigators. One of the world's most powerful voices in the industry, International Air Transport Association chief Willie Walsh, a former pilot, on Wednesday (July 16) said that there was an excellent case for equipping airliner cockpits with video cameras to record pilots' actions to complement voice and flight data recorders currently employed by accident investigators.&nbsp;Aviation analysts have said an initial report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised doubts about whether one of the pilots on Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787's engines seconds after takeoff, resulting in an irrecoverable situation.&nbsp;The crash at Ahmedabad, India, killed 241 of the 242 passengers, and several individuals on the ground. To date, "given what little we know at this point, it's more than likely that a video recording, along with the voice recording would really help the investigators to carry out that investigation on the matter of mental health," Walsh was quoted saying in an interview.&nbsp;Advocates of cockpit video cameras argue that the images would provide details missing from the audio and data recorders, while critics argue that privacy issues and abuse potential overshadow what they say are minor benefits for investigations. Video evidence was "invaluable" to Australian crash investigators deciding what caused Robinson R66 helicopter disintegration in flight in 2023, which killed the pilot, the sole occupant, in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report, released 18 days after Air India crash.&nbsp;The footage showed "the pilot was engaged in non-flying related activities for much of this period, namely mobile phone use and the drinking and eating of food," the report said. The ATSB praised Robinson Helicopters for making the factory-installed cameras available and said it urged other manufacturers and owners to take into consideration the ongoing safety advantage of similar equipment.&nbsp;In 2000, US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall called on the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate commercial airliners be fitted with cockpit image recorders.Hall made the suggestion following 1999's Egyptair Flight 990 crash, when the first officer deliberately crashed the Boeing 767, the NTSB said, killing all 217 aboard. "In the weighing of privacy vs. security, the scale is tipped in favor of security, categorically," air safety expert and retired commercial airline pilot John Nance said. "Guarding the flying public is a sacred trust."&nbsp;Another expert in aviation safety, Anthony Brickhouse, said that as an accident investigator, he supports cockpit video, but recognised that there are real concerns on the part of commercial pilots.Video of Air India flight 171 "would have provided answers to many questions," he said. Air India refused to comment on the matter. India's AAIB, under global regulations, is to come out with a final report within a year of the crash, but did not respond to a request for comment.

Could cockpit cameras have made a difference in Air India crash probe? Experts have their say

The fatal Air India crash last month resuscitated a decade-long controversy in the airline industry over installing video cameras monitoring airline pilot actions to complement the cockpit voice and flight data recorders already employed by crash investigators. One of the world's most powerful voices in the industry, International Air Transport Association chief Willie Walsh, a former pilot, on Wednesday (July 16) said that there was an excellent case for equipping airliner cockpits with video cameras to record pilots' actions to complement voice and flight data recorders currently employed by accident investigators. Aviation analysts have said an initial report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) raised doubts about whether one of the pilots on Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787's engines seconds after takeoff, resulting in an irrecoverable situation. The crash at Ahmedabad, India, killed 241 of the 242 passengers, and several individuals on the ground. To date, "given what little we know at this point, it's more than likely that a video recording, along with the voice recording would really help the investigators to carry out that investigation on the matter of mental health," Walsh was quoted saying in an interview. Advocates of cockpit video cameras argue that the images would provide details missing from the audio and data recorders, while critics argue that privacy issues and abuse potential overshadow what they say are minor benefits for investigations. Video evidence was "invaluable" to Australian crash investigators deciding what caused Robinson R66 helicopter disintegration in flight in 2023, which killed the pilot, the sole occupant, in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report, released 18 days after Air India crash. The footage showed "the pilot was engaged in non-flying related activities for much of this period, namely mobile phone use and the drinking and eating of food," the report said. The ATSB praised Robinson Helicopters for making the factory-installed cameras available and said it urged other manufacturers and owners to take into consideration the ongoing safety advantage of similar equipment. In 2000, US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jim Hall called on the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate commercial airliners be fitted with cockpit image recorders. Hall made the suggestion following 1999's Egyptair Flight 990 crash, when the first officer deliberately crashed the Boeing 767, the NTSB said, killing all 217 aboard. "In the weighing of privacy vs. security, the scale is tipped in favor of security, categorically," air safety expert and retired commercial airline pilot John Nance said. "Guarding the flying public is a sacred trust." Another expert in aviation safety, Anthony Brickhouse, said that as an accident investigator, he supports cockpit video, but recognised that there are real concerns on the part of commercial pilots. Video of Air India flight 171 "would have provided answers to many questions," he said. Air India refused to comment on the matter. India's AAIB, under global regulations, is to come out with a final report within a year of the crash, but did not respond to a request for comment.

Aviation experts have said a preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau raised questions over whether one of the pilots of Air India flight 171 cut off fuel to the Boeing 787’s engines seconds after takeoff, leading to an irrecoverable situation

Air India has completed the precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of fuel control switches (FCS) on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and found no problems, an airline official said on Wednesday. The inspection was carried out after a directive from aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this week, which asked all airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to examine the fuel switch locking systems by July 21. Air India now has 33 Dreamliners.&nbsp; The DGCA issued the order after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on last month’s Air India plane crash that killed 260 people. The DGCA directive enforced compliance with the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) bulletin issued in December 2018, which warned of potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature in operators of some Boeing 737 aircraft.&nbsp;The AIIB report into the crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad said that the fuel cutoff switches of both engines were inadvertently moved to the cutoff position, one after another within a 1-second interval, at low altitude just moments after liftoff.&nbsp;The official said the airline’s engineering team conducted the checks over the weekend and communicated the outcome to pilots via an internal message.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The inspections have been completed, and no issues were found,” the official said, adding that all Boeing 787-8 aircraft have already undergone Throttle Control Module (TCM) replacements as per Boeing's maintenance schedule, of which the FCS is a part.Earlier, the Boeing 737 Max fleet of Air India Express was also checked, and no issues were found, the official added.&nbsp;“Over the weekend, our engineering team initiated precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of FCS on all our Boeing 787 aircraft. The inspections have been completed, and no issues were found. With this, Air India has complied with the directives of the DGCA issued on Monday (July 14),” the airline told pilots, adding, “Please continue to remain vigilant and report any defect in the technical log, as per the existing reporting process. (A certain) tool is also available, should there be any concerns identified during operations.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“All our Boeing 787-8 aircraft have also undergone throttle control module (TCM) replacement as per the Boeing maintenance schedule. The FCS is part of this module,” the airline told pilots late Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;AAIB’s preliminary report into the AI 171 crash has been criticised for propounding a “suicide theory” by the pilots. They have appealed to not drawing any hasty conclusions from the AAIB prelim report.&nbsp;“A Dreamliner with a Japanese airline recently suffered twin engine failure post landing without the pilots changing the position of FSC from run to cutoff. Twin engine failure can happen due to any reason and the FCS switch can toggle without human intervention too. For the AAIB to word its report in a manner that casts aspersions on the two pilots who are not there to defend themselves is reprehensible,” they said..&nbsp;

As per the chronology specified in the AAIB report, both fuel cutoff switches moved from 'run' to 'cutoff', one second apart, almost immediately after takeoff. The ram air turbine (RAT) pump was deployed to supply hydraulic power as both engines fell below the minimum idle rate.

Air India has completed the precautionary inspection of the locking mechanism of fuel control switches (FCS) on all the Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and found no problems, an airline official said on Wednesday. The inspection was carried out after a directive from aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this week, which asked all airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft to examine the fuel switch locking systems by July 21. Air India now has 33 Dreamliners. The DGCA issued the order after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on last month’s Air India plane crash that killed 260 people. The DGCA directive enforced compliance with the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) bulletin issued in December 2018, which warned of potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature in operators of some Boeing 737 aircraft. The AIIB report into the crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad said that the fuel cutoff switches of both engines were inadvertently moved to the cutoff position, one after another within a 1-second interval, at low altitude just moments after liftoff. The official said the airline’s engineering team conducted the checks over the weekend and communicated the outcome to pilots via an internal message. “The inspections have been completed, and no issues were found,” the official said, adding that all Boeing 787-8 aircraft have already undergone Throttle Control Module (TCM) replacements as per Boeing's maintenance schedule, of which the FCS is a part. Earlier, the Boeing 737 Max fleet of Air India Express was also checked, and no issues were found, the official added. “Over the weekend, our engineering team initiated precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of FCS on all our Boeing 787 aircraft. The inspections have been completed, and no issues were found. With this, Air India has complied with the directives of the DGCA issued on Monday (July 14),” the airline told pilots, adding, “Please continue to remain vigilant and report any defect in the technical log, as per the existing reporting process. (A certain) tool is also available, should there be any concerns identified during operations.” “All our Boeing 787-8 aircraft have also undergone throttle control module (TCM) replacement as per the Boeing maintenance schedule. The FCS is part of this module,” the airline told pilots late Wednesday. AAIB’s preliminary report into the AI 171 crash has been criticised for propounding a “suicide theory” by the pilots. They have appealed to not drawing any hasty conclusions from the AAIB prelim report. “A Dreamliner with a Japanese airline recently suffered twin engine failure post landing without the pilots changing the position of FSC from run to cutoff. Twin engine failure can happen due to any reason and the FCS switch can toggle without human intervention too. For the AAIB to word its report in a manner that casts aspersions on the two pilots who are not there to defend themselves is reprehensible,” they said. .

As per the chronology specified in the AAIB report, both fuel cutoff switches moved from 'run' to 'cutoff', one second apart, almost immediately after takeoff. The ram air turbine (RAT) pump was deployed to supply hydraulic power as both engines fell below the minimum idle rate.

Air India completes inspection of fuel switches on all Boeing jets in fleet, says ‘no problems detected’

The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha has started an outreach programme for the families of the victims of terrorism in the Union Territory. The government calls it a historic step to deliver Justice to the terror victim families and the administration will now reach the doorsteps of all the families who have been waiting for justice for decades.&nbsp;According to official data, around 1,200 families of terror victims have contacted the district authorities seeking justice and rehabilitation. These families came forward only after the Lieutenant Governor had met a few families in Anantnag on 29th June 2025 and they were assured of jobs within 30 days.&nbsp;The Lieutenant Governor fulfilled his promise within 15 days and handed-over appointment letters to the 40 families of terror victims in North Kashmir's Baramulla district. According to the government of Jammu and Kashmir, the process will continue till every terror victim's family is rehabilitated.&nbsp;''I am committed to ensure that these families receive the justice, jobs, recognition and support they deserve after years of suffering. It is a historic step to finally recognize and honour the thousands of innocent civilians in J&amp;K. Truth about Terror Victim families was deliberately suppressed. No one came to wipe their tears. Everyone knew Pakistan-backed terrorists were involved in brutal killings, but no one provided justice to thousands of elderly parents, wives, brothers or sisters, '' said Manoj Sinha.&nbsp;The Lieutenant Governor assured the people that those days are over when the family members of dreaded terrorists used to get jobs, and the killers of common Kashmiris were rehabilitated. He said that the government is identifying those elements and removing them from government jobs. Government will rehabilitate the genuine victims of terrorism.&nbsp;There were dozens of families with their painful stories. Some of them had lost their father's, some had lost husbands and some mother's had lost their sons. Some even lost multiple family members in one attack.&nbsp;''My two uncles were killed by terrorists in 1992, since then we have been asking for justice. Our case was still going on since then and we had not been rehabilitated. We want to thank LG Sahib for all the help. Four of the people were killed by terrorists together and since then we had received no help from the government, '' said a victim's family member.&nbsp;Huge number of families of the victims had gathered at both Anantnag and Baramulla districts to meet LG Manoj Sinha. These families said that they have been neglected for over three decades and narrated their terror stories. All these families thanked the LG and said they had been waiting for justice for a very long time.&nbsp;''The families of the terror victims from North Kashmir met up with the LG, In the last three decades around 11000 casualties have taken place here directly due to the cross-border terrorism. Till now, there was no one who would hear them out and it's for the first time in decades that someone has come forward to listen to the victims' families. I must congratulate LG for such a step. The real martyrs were always sidelined, and the terrorists were made martyrs here, '' said Wajahat Farooq Bhat, Chairman Save Youth Save Future.&nbsp;Helplines have been set up in districts to register grievances of terror victims. Authorities say that they are receiving hundreds of complaints from the 90s also. In many cases, FIRs were not registered, lands were encroached and properties demolished, and the government says that the authorities have also decided to review cases where FIR's were not lodged.&nbsp; &nbsp;

According to official data, around 1,200 families of terror victims have contacted the district authorities seeking justice and rehabilitation.

The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha has started an outreach programme for the families of the victims of terrorism in the Union Territory. The government calls it a historic step to deliver Justice to the terror victim families and the administration will now reach the doorsteps of all the families who have been waiting for justice for decades. According to official data, around 1,200 families of terror victims have contacted the district authorities seeking justice and rehabilitation. These families came forward only after the Lieutenant Governor had met a few families in Anantnag on 29th June 2025 and they were assured of jobs within 30 days. The Lieutenant Governor fulfilled his promise within 15 days and handed-over appointment letters to the 40 families of terror victims in North Kashmir's Baramulla district. According to the government of Jammu and Kashmir, the process will continue till every terror victim's family is rehabilitated. ''I am committed to ensure that these families receive the justice, jobs, recognition and support they deserve after years of suffering. It is a historic step to finally recognize and honour the thousands of innocent civilians in J&K. Truth about Terror Victim families was deliberately suppressed. No one came to wipe their tears. Everyone knew Pakistan-backed terrorists were involved in brutal killings, but no one provided justice to thousands of elderly parents, wives, brothers or sisters, '' said Manoj Sinha. The Lieutenant Governor assured the people that those days are over when the family members of dreaded terrorists used to get jobs, and the killers of common Kashmiris were rehabilitated. He said that the government is identifying those elements and removing them from government jobs. Government will rehabilitate the genuine victims of terrorism. There were dozens of families with their painful stories. Some of them had lost their father's, some had lost husbands and some mother's had lost their sons. Some even lost multiple family members in one attack. ''My two uncles were killed by terrorists in 1992, since then we have been asking for justice. Our case was still going on since then and we had not been rehabilitated. We want to thank LG Sahib for all the help. Four of the people were killed by terrorists together and since then we had received no help from the government, '' said a victim's family member. Huge number of families of the victims had gathered at both Anantnag and Baramulla districts to meet LG Manoj Sinha. These families said that they have been neglected for over three decades and narrated their terror stories. All these families thanked the LG and said they had been waiting for justice for a very long time. ''The families of the terror victims from North Kashmir met up with the LG, In the last three decades around 11000 casualties have taken place here directly due to the cross-border terrorism. Till now, there was no one who would hear them out and it's for the first time in decades that someone has come forward to listen to the victims' families. I must congratulate LG for such a step. The real martyrs were always sidelined, and the terrorists were made martyrs here, '' said Wajahat Farooq Bhat, Chairman Save Youth Save Future. Helplines have been set up in districts to register grievances of terror victims. Authorities say that they are receiving hundreds of complaints from the 90s also. In many cases, FIRs were not registered, lands were encroached and properties demolished, and the government says that the authorities have also decided to review cases where FIR's were not lodged.

According to official data, around 1,200 families of terror victims have contacted the district authorities seeking justice and rehabilitation.

Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha starts outreach programme for terror victim families

After assessing the AAIB's preliminary report, many aviation experts gave a clean chit of sorts to the pilots of the Air India plane that crashed last month, claiming they had acted within aviation norms. These experts blamed a technical fault in the plane for the crash that killed 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground. The agency today said in its report, citing the pilots' conversation in the cockpit, that the fuel switch had turned off, and both of them declined to have done that. The pilots attempted to restart the engines but failed, which, experts said, pointed to a grave issue with the engines themselves.&nbsp;"From the report I have seen, there was no other reason for the aircraft to go down but the manufacturing part...It appears that the fuel was cut off on takeoff. The voice recorder makes it clear that neither the commander nor the co-pilot switched off the jet fuel switch. This is obviously some fault within the aircraft that the jet fuel switch turned off automatically," said aviation expert Sanat Kaul.&nbsp;Ehsan Khalid, another aviation expert, explained how the fuel cut-off switch works.&nbsp;"The fuel cut-off switch is a physical switch; it has to be moved from one position to another, and it has to be moved from that position back. There is no automation involved in it. What automation is involved is the fuel shut-off valve. It has transitioned from run to cut-off or ON to OFF, if that is what was being recorded, and if AAIB meant then it is a different thing, but fuel switches being moved up and down automatically does not happen. So, the AAIB report has made some of the answers right, some of the speculations are out of the window," he said.&nbsp;Khalid backed the deceased pilots, saying they were right in trying to switch on the cut-off switch.&nbsp;"Pilot action was 100 per cent right, they tried to revive the engine, which is further corroborated by the fact that there was some movement of the fuel cut-off switch. The fact remains that the engine power was lost without pilot input is confirmed," he said.&nbsp;He said the fuel control shut-off valve might have shut off.&nbsp;"The aircraft took off without any problem, till 3 seconds after it lifted off, at 39 seconds, it left the ground, at 42 seconds, both engines lost power. The report says fuel cut-off switches, transitioned from run to cut-off in 1 1-second interval; thereafter engine continued to be in that position till the next 10 seconds, thereafter the switches transitioned from cut-off to run position. There is no aircraft mechanism that moves the control switches. What has moved is the fuel control shut-off valve...In my opinion, there is no way the switch can move on its own...The pilots did not do it," he added.&nbsp;Veteran pilot and aviation expert Amit Singh said the switch cannot turn off on its own.&nbsp;"They have ruled out every other thing, it is certain that both engines had shut down, they may have shut down because of the fuel control switches being selected off, how did they go off, because of technical defect, or human intervention, the design is such that it cannot automatically go on and off...Time will tell why it happened, there could be the contributory causes...Multiple effects can result in accidents; it has to be a very detailed investigation," he added.&nbsp;Flight data recovered from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF, one after the other within a 1-second interval. Within seconds, one pilot asked the other if he had switched off the fuel. The other replied, saying he didn't.

After assessing the AAIB's preliminary report, many aviation experts gave a clean chit of sorts to the pilots of the Air India plane that crashed last month, claiming they had acted within aviation norms.

After assessing the AAIB's preliminary report, many aviation experts gave a clean chit of sorts to the pilots of the Air India plane that crashed last month, claiming they had acted within aviation norms. These experts blamed a technical fault in the plane for the crash that killed 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground. The agency today said in its report, citing the pilots' conversation in the cockpit, that the fuel switch had turned off, and both of them declined to have done that. The pilots attempted to restart the engines but failed, which, experts said, pointed to a grave issue with the engines themselves. "From the report I have seen, there was no other reason for the aircraft to go down but the manufacturing part...It appears that the fuel was cut off on takeoff. The voice recorder makes it clear that neither the commander nor the co-pilot switched off the jet fuel switch. This is obviously some fault within the aircraft that the jet fuel switch turned off automatically," said aviation expert Sanat Kaul. Ehsan Khalid, another aviation expert, explained how the fuel cut-off switch works. "The fuel cut-off switch is a physical switch; it has to be moved from one position to another, and it has to be moved from that position back. There is no automation involved in it. What automation is involved is the fuel shut-off valve. It has transitioned from run to cut-off or ON to OFF, if that is what was being recorded, and if AAIB meant then it is a different thing, but fuel switches being moved up and down automatically does not happen. So, the AAIB report has made some of the answers right, some of the speculations are out of the window," he said. Khalid backed the deceased pilots, saying they were right in trying to switch on the cut-off switch. "Pilot action was 100 per cent right, they tried to revive the engine, which is further corroborated by the fact that there was some movement of the fuel cut-off switch. The fact remains that the engine power was lost without pilot input is confirmed," he said. He said the fuel control shut-off valve might have shut off. "The aircraft took off without any problem, till 3 seconds after it lifted off, at 39 seconds, it left the ground, at 42 seconds, both engines lost power. The report says fuel cut-off switches, transitioned from run to cut-off in 1 1-second interval; thereafter engine continued to be in that position till the next 10 seconds, thereafter the switches transitioned from cut-off to run position. There is no aircraft mechanism that moves the control switches. What has moved is the fuel control shut-off valve...In my opinion, there is no way the switch can move on its own...The pilots did not do it," he added. Veteran pilot and aviation expert Amit Singh said the switch cannot turn off on its own. "They have ruled out every other thing, it is certain that both engines had shut down, they may have shut down because of the fuel control switches being selected off, how did they go off, because of technical defect, or human intervention, the design is such that it cannot automatically go on and off...Time will tell why it happened, there could be the contributory causes...Multiple effects can result in accidents; it has to be a very detailed investigation," he added. Flight data recovered from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF, one after the other within a 1-second interval. Within seconds, one pilot asked the other if he had switched off the fuel. The other replied, saying he didn't.

Flight data recovered from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF.

Air India crash: Experts assess AAIB report, float new 'fuel shut-off valve' theory

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its initial report into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people, pointing out that within seconds of takeoff, the engine switches were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position. Even though the report didn't apportion blame for the June 12 accident, it provided a possible explanation for what went wrong. The report also revealed to the public the sequence of events that led to one of the biggest disasters in aviation history.<h2>Here's the sequence of events as well as the key findings of the AAIB report</h2><ol><li>The Air India Dreamliner VT-ANB landed in Ahmedabad from New Delhi as AI423.</li><li>Nearly three hours later, after ground clearance, the aircraft lifted. "The aircraft air/ground sensors transitioned to air mode, consistent with liftoff," the report said.</li><li>The aircraft reached its maximum airspeed of 180 knots. After that, the report said: “Immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec.”</li><li>The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off, it added.</li><li>In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.</li><li>The CCTV footage obtained from the airport showed Ram Air Turbine (RAT) getting deployed during the initial climb immediately after lift-off</li><li>The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.</li><li>Both engines' values "passed below minimum idle speed", and the RAT hydraulic pump began supplying hydraulic power.</li><li>Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN.&nbsp;</li><li>Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN.</li><li>When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction, the report explained.</li><li>Engine 1’s core deceleration stopped, reversed, and started to progress to recovery.&nbsp;</li><li>Engine 2 was able to relight but could not arrest core speed deceleration and reintroduced fuel repeatedly to increase core speed acceleration and recovery.</li><li>One of the two pilots sounded "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" alert.</li><li>Data recording stopped.</li></ol><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-crash-report-can-pilots-accidentally-shut-engines-run-cutoff-switches-1-sec-gap-confounds-experts-1752289638147">Also read: Air India crash: Can pilots accidentally shut engines? 'RUN-CUTOFF' switches, 1-second gap confound experts</a>The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed. 241 people, including crew members, were killed. One person miraculously walked away unhurt. 19 people died on the ground. Among the dead were 169 Indians, 53 Britishers, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian.

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its initial report into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people, pointing out that within seconds of takeoff, the engine switches were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position. 

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its initial report into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people, pointing out that within seconds of takeoff, the engine switches were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position. Even though the report didn't apportion blame for the June 12 accident, it provided a possible explanation for what went wrong. The report also revealed to the public the sequence of events that led to one of the biggest disasters in aviation history. Here's the sequence of events as well as the key findings of the AAIB report The Air India Dreamliner VT-ANB landed in Ahmedabad from New Delhi as AI423. Nearly three hours later, after ground clearance, the aircraft lifted. "The aircraft air/ground sensors transitioned to air mode, consistent with liftoff," the report said. The aircraft reached its maximum airspeed of 180 knots. After that, the report said: “Immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec.” The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off, it added. In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so. The CCTV footage obtained from the airport showed Ram Air Turbine (RAT) getting deployed during the initial climb immediately after lift-off The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall. Both engines' values "passed below minimum idle speed", and the RAT hydraulic pump began supplying hydraulic power. Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN. Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction, the report explained. Engine 1’s core deceleration stopped, reversed, and started to progress to recovery. Engine 2 was able to relight but could not arrest core speed deceleration and reintroduced fuel repeatedly to increase core speed acceleration and recovery. One of the two pilots sounded "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" alert. Data recording stopped. Also read: Air India crash: Can pilots accidentally shut engines? 'RUN-CUTOFF' switches, 1-second gap confound experts The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed. 241 people, including crew members, were killed. One person miraculously walked away unhurt. 19 people died on the ground. Among the dead were 169 Indians, 53 Britishers, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was headed from Ahmedabad to London when it crashed. 241 people, including crew members, were killed. One person miraculously walked away unhurt. 19 people died on the ground.

AAIB report: How Air India plane crashed? Sequence of events in 15 points

Air India flight AI119 from Mumbai to New York was diverted to New Delhi following a security concern arising out of a bomb threat, the news agency ANI reported on Monday (Oct 14) citing the Delhi Police.

Air India flight AI119 from Mumbai to New York was diverted to New Delhi following a security concern arising out of a bomb threat, the news agency ANI reported on Monday (Oct 14) citing the Delhi Police. The police said that the aircraft was currently stationed at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, and all standard safety protocols were being followed to ensure the safety of passengers and crew on board. Flight rescheduled for tomorrow morning An Air India spokesperson told ANI that the passengers of AI119 would be moved to hotels once security protocols were completed. "The flight has been rescheduled to the morning of October 15," the spokesperson added. All passengers on flight have disembarked: Air India Earlier, Air India said in a statement that AI119 was operating from Mumbai to JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York) on Sunday when it received a specific security alert. On instructions of the government's security regulatory committee, the flight was diverted to Delhi. Also read | Air India flight with 141 passengers lands safely after mid-air emergency "All passengers have disembarked and are at the Delhi airport terminal," the statement said. "Our colleagues on the ground are making sure to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected disruption. Air India is committed to and accords top priority to the safety and security of its passengers and crew," it added. Similar incident in August This incident came after a state of emergency was declared at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala following a bomb threat on an Air India flight from Mumbai. Flight AI119 operating from Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert and on instructions of the government's security regulatory committee was diverted to Delhi. All passengers have disembarked and are at the Delhi airport terminal: Air India Spokesperson https://t.co/x9scGAXPM5 pic.twitter.com/p1L5Qt6yWu — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024 × The flight landed at the airport at around 8 am on August 22, and was subsequently moved to an isolation bay. The flight had 135 passengers onboard and the bomb threat was communicated by the pilot as the aircraft approached the Thiruvananthapuram airport. (With inputs from agencies)

After bomb threat, Air India flight from Mumbai to New York rescheduled for Oct 15

India’s former flag carrier Air India is amidst a major brand overhaul, but its iconic ‘Maharaja’ mascot is going nowhere. The company&nbsp;unveiled its new logo Thursday (August 10), a move aimed at overhauling the brand and reflecting the merger of its two full-service carriers Air India and Vistara.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Tata Group acquired Air India in January 2022 after offering $2.4 billion and now faces the uphill task of reviving its fortunes.

<h2>New logo named The Vista</h2>

The previous logo, which featured&nbsp;a red swan along with a distinctive orange Konark Chakra, has been replaced by a livery of three colours—red, white and purple. The new logo has been named The Vista.&nbsp;The airline also revealed its new tail design and theme song as part of the event.

Watch:&nbsp;

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VIDEO | Air India unveils its new livery and logo <a href="https://t.co/IZCy5PLOqx">pic.twitter.com/IZCy5PLOqx</a>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1689644586493444097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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While red and white have been taken from Air India’s old theme, purple has been taken to reflect incoropration of Vistara, the other private airline of Tata Group.

“Colours, patterns, shapes and how they come together and what they represent matter, but our actions speak so much louder. We are in the midst of a total transformation to reimagine the role of India’s flagship airline”, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said.

Maharaja will no longer serve as a mascot; instead, its presence will be reduced to premium class and airport lounges.

Watch:&nbsp;Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts

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“The Maharaja will live on. It has a deep connect with people over a certain age who form a significant part of the flyers.

The airline wants to retain that nostalgia,” Financial Express reported citing some sources familiar with the development.

The Maharaja fits in well with the airline’s efforts to project itself as a “global brand with an Indian heart”, they added.&nbsp;

<h2>History of Maharaja Mascot</h2>

Since Air India’s inception in 1946, Maharaja has been an integral part of its identity. The creators of Maharaja later revamped the mascot to make it more relevant and modern, countering claims that it portrayed an outdated and inaccurate image of India.&nbsp;

Additionally, Air India (AI) integrated the Maharaja into real-life conversations, allowing him to engage with the public in a unique manner, much like the Amul girl. Consequently, he became a genuine figure for many of his admirers and the company’s flyers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-show-stopper-at-paris-air-show-air-india-finalises-mega-deal-for-470-planes-606977">Also read:&nbsp;India `Show stopper` at Paris air show: Air India finalises mega deal for 470 planes</a>

Furthermore, Haris Bijoor, a brand-strategy expert, expressed that the Maharaja has enduring significance.&nbsp;

“I do believe the Maharaja is forever. It’s easy to erase the old with the new. Very few can preserve the old and make it new! AI must attempt that. In the era of hard-touch and hard-tech and hard commercial practice, the soft old mascot of yesteryears doesn’t belong to the dustbin of history. Instead it belongs to the future,” he said.

<h2>London-based consultancy leading rebranding efforts</h2>

In December 2022, the Tatas joined hands with London-based brand and design consultancy company, Futurebrands, to lead the rebranding efforts for Air India. Subsequently, they appointed McCann Worlgroup India to manage brand promotion initiatives.

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India’s former flag carrier Air India is amidst a major brand overhaul, but its iconic ‘Maharaja’ mascot is going nowhere. The company unveiled its new logo Thursday (August 10), a move aimed at overhauling the brand and reflecting the merger of its two full-service carriers Air India and Vistara.

India’s former flag carrier Air India is amidst a major brand overhaul, but its iconic ‘Maharaja’ mascot is going nowhere. The company unveiled its new logo Thursday (August 10), a move aimed at overhauling the brand and reflecting the merger of its two full-service carriers Air India and Vistara. Tata Group acquired Air India in January 2022 after offering $2.4 billion and now faces the uphill task of reviving its fortunes. New logo named The Vista The previous logo, which featured a red swan along with a distinctive orange Konark Chakra, has been replaced by a livery of three colours—red, white and purple. The new logo has been named The Vista. The airline also revealed its new tail design and theme song as part of the event. Watch: VIDEO | Air India unveils its new livery and logo pic.twitter.com/IZCy5PLOqx — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 10, 2023 × While red and white have been taken from Air India’s old theme, purple has been taken to reflect incoropration of Vistara, the other private airline of Tata Group. “Colours, patterns, shapes and how they come together and what they represent matter, but our actions speak so much louder. We are in the midst of a total transformation to reimagine the role of India’s flagship airline”, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said. Maharaja will no longer serve as a mascot; instead, its presence will be reduced to premium class and airport lounges. Watch: Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts × “The Maharaja will live on. It has a deep connect with people over a certain age who form a significant part of the flyers. The airline wants to retain that nostalgia,” Financial Express reported citing some sources familiar with the development. The Maharaja fits in well with the airline’s efforts to project itself as a “global brand with an Indian heart”, they added. History of Maharaja Mascot Since Air India’s inception in 1946, Maharaja has been an integral part of its identity. The creators of Maharaja later revamped the mascot to make it more relevant and modern, countering claims that it portrayed an outdated and inaccurate image of India. Additionally, Air India (AI) integrated the Maharaja into real-life conversations, allowing him to engage with the public in a unique manner, much like the Amul girl. Consequently, he became a genuine figure for many of his admirers and the company’s flyers. Also read: India `Show stopper` at Paris air show: Air India finalises mega deal for 470 planes Furthermore, Haris Bijoor, a brand-strategy expert, expressed that the Maharaja has enduring significance. “I do believe the Maharaja is forever. It’s easy to erase the old with the new. Very few can preserve the old and make it new! AI must attempt that. In the era of hard-touch and hard-tech and hard commercial practice, the soft old mascot of yesteryears doesn’t belong to the dustbin of history. Instead it belongs to the future,” he said. London-based consultancy leading rebranding efforts In December 2022, the Tatas joined hands with London-based brand and design consultancy company, Futurebrands, to lead the rebranding efforts for Air India. Subsequently, they appointed McCann Worlgroup India to manage brand promotion initiatives. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Air India undergoes brand overhaul but iconic mascot Maharaja isn’t going anywhere

For passengers flying on foreign routes, Air India has just unveiled a new in-flight food and beverage selection (ex-India). According to Sandeep Verma, head of inflight services at Air India, "We have put a lot of thought and work into our new menus as part of our ongoing endeavour to change the Air India experience for passengers. Onboard Air India flights, we want passengers to experience the same level of comfort with their food and drink as they would at their favourite restaurants.

India REVAMPS international flights menu, bar menu features a range of premium brands

Indian airliner Air India has refreshed its inflight menu for international flights. According to a statement issued on Monday (April 3), Air India said the refresh of the menus is based on guest feedback and is designed to offer travellers an assortment of gourmet meals, trendy appetizers, and decadent desserts, and showcase India's locally sourced culinary influence while keeping in line with the healthy eating trend.

"The airline’s bar menu now features a range of premium brands of spirits as well as a thoughtfully put-together wine list that includes fine French and Italian wines," the statement said, adding the new menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner across all classes, feature a mix of fusion dishes and classics.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tragedy-averted-air-india-and-nepal-airlines-aircraft-almost-collided-mid-air-two-officials-suspended-575890">Tragedy averted: Air India, Nepal Airlines aircraft almost collided mid-air, two ATC officials suspended</a>

The airline also said that its first and business-class customers who are vegan would now be able to choose from a selection of plant-based meal options. Customers on board would be able to indulge in sophistication with Air India’s bar menu.

Speaking on the news, Air India's Head of inflight services Sandeep Verma said, "As part of our ongoing effort of transforming the Air India experience for guests, we have brought great thought and energy into our new menus. We want our guests to enjoy their food and beverage on board Air India flights much like they would at their favourite restaurants."

Verma added that the airline's underlying focus while designing the new menus has been on ensuring that they include nutritious options that are delicious, and on incorporating contemporary, sustainable practices.&nbsp;

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Indian airliner Air India has refreshed its inflight menu for international flights. According to a statement issued on Monday (April 3), Air India said the refresh of the menus is based on guest feedback and is designed to offer travellers an assortment of gourmet meals, trendy appetizers, and decadent desserts, and showcase India's locally sourced culinary influence while keeping in line with the healthy eating trend.

Indian airliner Air India has refreshed its inflight menu for international flights. According to a statement issued on Monday (April 3), Air India said the refresh of the menus is based on guest feedback and is designed to offer travellers an assortment of gourmet meals, trendy appetizers, and decadent desserts, and showcase India's locally sourced culinary influence while keeping in line with the healthy eating trend. "The airline’s bar menu now features a range of premium brands of spirits as well as a thoughtfully put-together wine list that includes fine French and Italian wines," the statement said, adding the new menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner across all classes, feature a mix of fusion dishes and classics. ALSO READ | Tragedy averted: Air India, Nepal Airlines aircraft almost collided mid-air, two ATC officials suspended The airline also said that its first and business-class customers who are vegan would now be able to choose from a selection of plant-based meal options. Customers on board would be able to indulge in sophistication with Air India’s bar menu. Speaking on the news, Air India's Head of inflight services Sandeep Verma said, "As part of our ongoing effort of transforming the Air India experience for guests, we have brought great thought and energy into our new menus. We want our guests to enjoy their food and beverage on board Air India flights much like they would at their favourite restaurants." Verma added that the airline's underlying focus while designing the new menus has been on ensuring that they include nutritious options that are delicious, and on incorporating contemporary, sustainable practices. 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 refreshes inflight menu for international flights

The United States has announced that it plans to restore Air India's ability to self-conduct its ground handling operations at American airports.

US Department of Transportation has reversed its previous order of July 2019 that had suspended the right of Air India to self-handle at US airports.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hong-kong-bars-air-india-flights-after-passengers-test-positive-for-covid-19-321637">Hong Kong bars Air India flights after passengers test positive for COVID-19</a>

The Department and other US government agencies have continued to work with the government of India towards satisfactory resolution of this matter. In that connection, recent positive developments have led the department to tentatively determine that the public interest now calls for removal of the permit condition we had imposed in order 2019-7-9, said the order issued by Joel Szabat, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs.

"We therefore have tentatively decided to amend Air India's permit to remove that condition,"&nbsp;the Department of Transportation said.

Stakeholders and public have 21 days to respond to this proposal, before it can be finalised and enforced.

The order comes a day after the Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, had a conversation with the Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

"India and the US have partnered in Aviation sector during these difficult times,"&nbsp;the ambassador tweeted.

The order also relieves Air India of any further reporting requirement regarding its ground handling arrangements.&nbsp;

The United States has announced that it plans to restore Air India's ability to self-conduct its ground handling operations at American airports. US Department of Transportation has reversed its previous order of July 2019 that had suspended the right of Air India to self-handle at US airports.

The United States has announced that it plans to restore Air India's ability to self-conduct its ground handling operations at American airports. US Department of Transportation has reversed its previous order of July 2019 that had suspended the right of Air India to self-handle at US airports. Also read | Hong Kong bars Air India flights after passengers test positive for COVID-19 The Department and other US government agencies have continued to work with the government of India towards satisfactory resolution of this matter. In that connection, recent positive developments have led the department to tentatively determine that the public interest now calls for removal of the permit condition we had imposed in order 2019-7-9, said the order issued by Joel Szabat, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs. "We therefore have tentatively decided to amend Air India's permit to remove that condition," the Department of Transportation said. Stakeholders and public have 21 days to respond to this proposal, before it can be finalised and enforced. The order comes a day after the Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, had a conversation with the Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. "India and the US have partnered in Aviation sector during these difficult times," the ambassador tweeted. The order also relieves Air India of any further reporting requirement regarding its ground handling arrangements.

US to allow Air India conduct ground handling at airports: Official

The airline is sitting on a debt pile of around Rs 58,000 crore, besides huge accumulated losses running into thousands of crores. Currently, the Government of India holds a 100 per cent stake in the airline, and its subsidiary Air India Express.

Government puts 100% of Air India on sale

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