Page 6 - The Indian EYE 062725

EYE ON INDIA JUNE 27, 2025 | The Indian Eye 6

Air India Crash Triggers Crisis:

Investigators Hunt for Clues as

Airline Grounds Flights

As the mystery deepens around the deadly AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, investigators push ahead with a high-stakes
probe while Air India scales back international operations in a bid to restore confidence and control damage

OUR BUREAU jets are undergoing review. “As a con-
fidence-building measure, we’ve also
Ahmedabad /Mumbai
extended enhanced checks to our
he nation continues to reel Boeing 777 aircraft,” he said. “This
from the tragic Air India AI- will allow more backup aircraft to be
T171 crash that killed 241 of the available if new issues arise.”
242 people onboard, including former Air India has apologized to affect-
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, ed passengers, offering rescheduling
when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner options and full refunds. Neverthe-
went down minutes after takeoff from less, the disruption is significant for a
Ahmedabad on June 12. While shock carrier trying to reposition itself as a
and grief dominate the public re- global player under the Tata Group’s
sponse, investigators, regulators, and stewardship.
airline executives are grappling with
a complex and evolving crisis. At the Brand Image and Trust
heart of the story lies a dual challenge:
solving the mystery behind the crash or Air India, the AI-171 crash is
and stabilizing the operations and rep- more than a technical failure—
utation of India’s national carrier. Fit’s a test of reputation. The air-
line has worked in recent years to shed
The Unanswered Questions its legacy of delays, service issues, and
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel attends a prayer meeting held for former CM late Vijay Rupani, who technical faults. This tragedy has deliv-
he crash occurred under cir- ered a blow to that renewed image.
cumstances that remain deeply lost his life in the Air India crash, in Gandhinagar on Thursday. (@Bhupendrapbjp X/ANI Photo) Experts note that how Air India
Tunclear. The aircraft had passed responds in the coming weeks—es-
recent maintenance checks, with CEO As per official statements, these India’s assurances about fleet mainte- pecially in terms of transparent com-
Campbell Wilson confirming that the flight recorders may be sent abroad nance, the psychological impact of the munication, passenger support, and
plane was “well-maintained,” with its for decoding, depending on techni- crash—its abruptness, its death toll, visible safety commitments—will de-
last major inspection in June 2023 and cal evaluations. But the Ministry has and the involvement of a prominent termine how the brand is perceived
both engines individually reviewed as urged media and stakeholders to re- political figure—has created a mo- globally. The decision to voluntarily
recently as March and April 2025. frain from speculation, emphasizing ment of reckoning. reduce operations and conduct com-
Yet, the aircraft crashed into the professionalism and transparency as Operationally, Air India has prehensive checks, while disruptive,
boys’ hostel of BJ Medical College just the inquiry progresses. been forced into retrenchment. As of has been seen as a positive step by
minutes after takeoff. This discrepan- June 21, the airline announced the some aviation analysts.
cy—between a technically cleared air- Rapid Response temporary suspension of three inter- Yet, the broader aviation ecosys-
craft and a catastrophic outcome—has national routes—Delhi-Nairobi, Am- tem also faces scrutiny. In meetings
added layers of urgency and mystery n the immediate aftermath, Civil ritsar-London (Gatwick), and Goa with other carriers like SpiceJet, In-
to the investigation. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan (Mopa)-London—and reduced fre- diGo, and Akasa, the Civil Aviation
The Aircraft Accident Investiga- INaidu Kinjarapu convened emer- quency on over a dozen others, includ- Ministry reviewed fleet safety, passen-
tion Bureau (AAIB), under the Min- gency meetings with airport directors, ing high-demand routes to Toronto, ger experience, and communication
istry of Civil Aviation, immediately airlines, and the top brass of Air India. San Francisco, Paris, and Melbourne. strategies. Plans are now underway to
launched a formal probe. Assisted by The ministry laid out directives to sup- These cuts will remain in effect until at institutionalize regular operational au-
teams from the U.S. National Trans- port affected passengers, manage op- least July 15. dits across airlines.
portation Safety Board (NTSB) and erational disruption, and reassure the The reason: enhanced safety As families mourn, investigators
the aircraft’s original manufacturer public. The AAIB completed key evi- checks and reduced aircraft availabil- work, and airlines regroup, one thing is
under ICAO protocols, a multidis- dence collection phases swiftly, aided ity, compounded by Middle Eastern certain: the mystery of AI-171 must be
ciplinary team has been combing by local authorities, but deeper analy- airspace closures and new night-flight resolved—not just for accountability,
through evidence. Two black box sis is ongoing. restrictions in Europe. but to restore confidence in the skies.
units—a combined Cockpit Voice Re- The incident has prompted a CEO Campbell Wilson explained Until then, every grounded flight and
corder (CVR) and Digital Flight Data fresh wave of scrutiny on airline main- that of the 33 Boeing 787 aircraft in every delayed journey will carry the
Recorder (DFDR)—were recovered tenance protocols, pilot training, and Air India’s fleet, 26 have been rein- weight of unanswered questions, and the
on June 13 and June 16. emergency preparedness. Despite Air spected and cleared; the remaining hope that such a tragedy never repeats.

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