Air India witnessed a notable surge in pilot sick leave shortly after the fatal crash of flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad last month, which claimed 260 lives. On 16 June alone, 112 pilots, including 51 commanders and 61 first officers, reported unfit for duty, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol acknowledged the “minor increase” in sick reporting but rejected any suggestion of coordinated action or protest by the airline’s flight crew.
“Air India reported a minor increase in sick leaves reported by pilots across all fleets in the aftermath of the AI-171 accident. On 16.06.2025, a total of 112 pilots reported sick, comprising of 51 Commanders (P1) and 61 First Officers (P2),” Mohol said in a written reply.
The minister’s statement follows the devastating 12 June crash in which a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, bound for London Gatwick, ploughed into a residential building shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. The disaster killed 241 passengers and 19 civilians on the ground. A single passenger survived the crash, which is now under detailed inquiry.
Following the tragedy, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a medical advisory, instructing airlines to implement customised training modules to address mental health concerns among pilots and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs).
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“Additionally, on mental health monitoring, organisations (scheduled and non-scheduled operators, FTOs and AAI) were also advised to have a Peer Support Programme (PSP) in place for their employees,” Mohol noted. He added that the programme must be “proactive and non-punitive” and geared towards assisting crew and ATCOs in recognising and managing mental health issues.
The DGCA's guidance is seen as part of a broader push to address aviation safety in the wake of the Ahmedabad crash, with industry experts citing heightened stress and burnout among cockpit crew.
Separately, Mohol informed Parliament that the Ministry of Civil Aviation does not have any dedicated policy for compensating civilians affected by air crashes. The absence of a formal compensation mechanism for ground victims is expected to reignite debate over aviation liability frameworks in India.
The government’s stance could come under increasing scrutiny, given the scale of destruction caused by AI 171’s descent into a densely populated urban area.
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