24

Jun

Air Crash: Disasters Preventable but Still Happen?

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A person wearing a red turban AI-generated content may be incorrect.Air disasters are among the most catastrophic events imaginable. Each crash tells a harrowing story, leaving behind grief, questions, and often, avoidable lessons. As investigations unfold, a chilling question lingers: if these tragedies were preventable, why weren’t they?

Throughout my fifty-year career in journalism, I’ve reported on some of the most devastating aviation disasters. One of the worst was the bombing of Air India’s Kanishka (Flight AI-182) on June 23, 1985—a Boeing 747 that exploded midair off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board. It remains the deadliest aviation terror attack involving a single aircraft.

Another tragedy struck on November 12, 1996, when a midair collision near Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, between a Saudi Arabian Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin IL-76 claimed 349 lives. It remains India’s worst aviation disaster.

On June 12, 2025, exactly as the world mourned the 40th anniversary of the Kanishka bombing, yet another disaster struck. Air India Flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed into a medical college building shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers and crew, and 34 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

These events raise troubling questions about systemic vulnerabilities in the aviation industry. While technology and safety protocols have advanced considerably, disasters continue to occur—sometimes due to human error, mechanical failure, or the unpredictability of nature.

In the wake of the Ahmedabad crash, Air India and global aviation authorities have launched investigations. The aircraft’s black box—a device capable of recording flight data and cockpit conversations—was recovered intact and has been sent to the United States for analysis. Preliminary theories suggest a rare double engine failure, a scenario that Boeing claims is nearly unprecedented in over a decade of Dreamliner operations.

 

Column at a Glance
Air disasters are tragic events that often reveal systemic vulnerabilities in the aviation industry. The article recounts notable incidents, including the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight AI-182, which killed 329 people, and the 1996 Charkhi Dadri collision, claiming 349 lives. Recently, on June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in 241 fatalities and raising questions about safety protocols.
Tuesday Twist
By Prabhjot Singh
Investigations are underway, focusing on a potential double engine failure, while Air India has grounded its Boeing 787 fleet for enhanced checks. The article emphasizes the need for constant vigilance and accountability in aviation, highlighting that many disasters stem from preventable failures. As the industry modernizes, it must prioritize safety above all else, as negligence can lead to devastating consequences.

 

Air India CEO & MD Campbell Wilson addressed the tragedy in a letter to members of the airline’s loyalty program, Maharaja Club. Expressing sorrow, he reiterated the airline’s commitment to safety and transparency:

“We are reaching out with heavy hearts following the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171... The loss of 241 passengers and crew members, along with 34 people on the ground, has left us all in deep sorrow...”

He highlighted the experience of the crew, the aircraft’s maintenance records, and upcoming safety inspections. As a precaution, Air India grounded its entire Boeing 787 fleet for enhanced checks and reduced international widebody flights by 15% to ensure backup availability and schedule integrity.

Wilson’s message acknowledged passenger frustration over flight disruptions but emphasised the airline’s uncompromising stance on safety. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that Air India’s Dreamliner fleet complies with safety standards.

These moves come amid rising scrutiny over the airline’s operational practices. Reports suggest that the ill-fated aircraft had maintenance complaints on its previous flight—malfunctioning air conditioning, broken seats, and worn interiors. While Tata’s acquisition of Air India in 2022 ushered in a wave of modernisation on key international routes, older aircraft continue to operate on others, including the one involved in this crash.

I’ve personally travelled on some of these ageing aircraft post-privatisation and can vouch for passenger concerns. In the rush to scale operations and compete globally, have some safety corners been overlooked?

Back in 1996, following the Charkhi Dadri midair collision, an international symposium on air disasters was held in Chandigarh, spearheaded by Air Commodore J.S. Kalra and Prof. D.K. Sharma of Punjab Engineering College. The event brought together top aviation experts to brainstorm solutions. Nearly three decades later, the conclusions drawn then remain eerily relevant, underscoring the need for constant vigilance, proactive maintenance, and accountability in aviation.

One term that often surfaces after every crash is the "black box"—a device so central to aviation investigation that it borders on myth. I recall the day in 1985, post-Kanishka bombing, when even seasoned journalists hadn’t heard of it. Our editor at The Tribune, Mr. Prem Bhatia, asked, “Does anyone know what this black box is?” I happened to have a recently published Boeing manual and explained that the "black box" is orange for visibility and comprises two components: the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). These devices are typically housed in the tail section—ironically, often the most survivable part of a crashed plane.

In the Ahmedabad crash, the tail was one of the few intact components. It provided investigators with a crucial breakthrough—the black box survived the impact and fire triggered by the aircraft’s 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with assistance from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, is now piecing together the final moments of AI 171. The world waits anxiously for answers.

Air disasters may appear sudden and inexplicable, but most stem from a cascade of preventable failures. Investigations tend to reveal cracks in protocol, missed red flags, or delayed upgrades. Yet history shows that the lessons we fail to heed tend to return—often with even more devastating consequences.

As the aviation industry continues to push for faster, more efficient travel, safety must remain its most sacred tenet. No level of modernisation can compensate for negligence, and no apology can bring back lives lost.

In aviation, as in life, preparedness is not optional—it’s survival.

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