On Tuesday, shortly after takeoff, a dramatic mid-air incident occurred on an Air India flight from Delhi to Vienna, causing the aircraft to plummet nearly 900 feet. Aviation authorities are conducting an urgent investigation into this incident, which happened just two days after the deadly crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad. A national media reported that both pilots involved in the incident have been grounded while a thorough investigation is conducted.
On June 14, at 2:56 am, the Boeing 777-operated flight, AI-187, departed Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The plane continued its nine-hour, eight-minute flight and made a safe landing in Vienna in spite of the concerning altitude loss shortly after takeoff. The Air India aircraft suddenly lost nearly 900 ft of altitude during the first part of the flight, which set off a sequence of automated cockpit alerts. The stall alerts and ground proximity alerts, like several 'Don't sink' warnings, were among them; they warned of the possibility of colliding with the ground if the descent went unchecked.
The Air India confirmed in an official statement that the flight crew had acted quickly to stabilise the aircraft and acknowledged the incident. The pilots recovered from the altitude drop and continued the flight as scheduled in spite of the unfavourable weather conditions. The airline added that following the pilots' report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was informed in accordance with standard procedure. The DGCA began a thorough investigation into the incident after conducting a preliminary review of the flight data and cockpit voice recorder data. Until the investigation's conclusion, both pilots have been temporarily relieved of their duties.
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The aviation regulator has called for a formal explanation from Air India's Head of Safety due to the incident's seriousness. The incident is being closely watched, particularly in light of the tragic June 12 crash of AI-171, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 headed for London that went down just after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Approximately 270 people, including passengers and crew, lost their lives in that crash.
A recent safety audit by the DGCA has revealed numerous aircraft maintenance lapses and inadequate defect rectification procedures in Air India's fleet in light of these incidents. Following a string of technical issues on Air India flights earlier this month, which raised questions about the airline's safety culture and procedural compliance, these findings were made.
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The DGCA is investigating whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or weather-related factors contributed to the abrupt altitude drop on flight AI-187. The incident may lead to changes to the airline's operational procedures and stricter inspection standards.
According to the regulatory response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation conducted a thorough audit at Air India's main operations base in Gurugram on June 23, 2025. The audit covers a number of crucial areas, including crew rostering, planning, scheduling, flight operations, and the operation of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC), according to national media. Although this audit is a yearly process, it is anticipated to assume greater importance in light of the recent events.
The Air India's safety standards have come under intense scrutiny after two serious incidents occurred in a fourty-eight hour period. The future operational procedures and regulatory oversight at the national carrier are probably going to be influenced by the findings of the ongoing audits and investigations.
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