Vienna Bound Air India Flight Drops 900 Feet Mid-Air After Take Off, Pilots Grounded As Probe Begins

New Delhi: Days after the deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, an Air India, Delhi-Vienna flight plunged 900 feet mid-air. The incident occurred on June 14, when the flight AI-187, a Boeing 777, departed from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and safely reached Vienna after a nine hours and eight minutes flight. 

However, soon after takeoff the aircraft reportedly lost altitude which triggered stall and ground proximity warnings including several reiterations of “Don't sink” alerts. Fortunately, the pilots acted calmly and stabilized the plane in time. The journey then continued safely despite unfavorable weather conditions. 

Pilots Off-Rostered As Probe Begins 

An Air India spokesperson told media that upon receipt of the pilot's report, the matter was disclosed to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in accordance with the regulations. In the wake of the pending investigation, the flight's pilots have been off-rostered. 

An investigation was initiated as soon as the authorities received data from the flight's recorders. Meanwhile, Air India's Head of Safety was summoned for an explanation, following a detailed investigation into the matter. 

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Incident Occurred Hours After Ahmedabad Plane Crash Horror  

The Vienna-bound Air India flight, AI-187, departed from IGI Airport at 2:56 am, just 38 hours after the devastating crash of the London-bound Air India flight. This tragic incident involved a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 and resulted in the loss of around 270 lives, with only one survivor from the aircraft.

The flight crashed shortly after takeoff and was similarly a Boeing model, 787-8. The tragedy occurred on June 12, striking Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College, impacting the mess and hostel area of the college.

Safety Audit Revealed Lapses In Air India Fleet 

Safety audit by the DGCA following the crash, uncovered repeated maintenance lapses and poor defect rectification within Air India's fleet. This was after multiple Air India flights experienced technical snags last month. 

The current investigation into the exact cause behind AI-187 abruptly losing altitude will examine if weather conditions, mechanical faults, or pilot errors were responsible for it. This could lead to tighter inspections and changes in operational protocols.