An Air India flight from Delhi to Vienna experienced a sudden 900ft drop moments after takeoff, prompting a full-scale investigation and the grounding of both pilots. The incident occurred on June 14, just days after a deadly crash in Ahmedabad that killed nearly 270 people.
Flight AI-187, a Boeing 777, departed Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2.56 am and landed safely in Vienna after a nine-hour journey. However, shortly after takeoff, the aircraft triggered multiple cockpit alerts, including stall warnings and repeated 'Don’t sink' proximity alarms. Air India confirmed that the pilots acted swiftly to stabilise the aircraft despite challenging weather conditions.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was immediately informed, and data from the aircraft’s flight recorders has been retrieved for analysis. Both pilots have been taken off duty pending the outcome of the investigation. The DGCA has also summoned Air India’s Head of Safety for an explanation and launched a detailed audit of the airline’s operations.
This incident occurred just 38 hours after an Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing nearly 270 people. Investigators are now probing whether sabotage caused that tragedy. Only one passenger, British man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash. The plane, with 52 Brits on board, was bound for London Gatwick.
A recent DGCA safety audit flagged recurring maintenance lapses and poor fault rectification across Air India’s fleet. The audit, which began on June 23, covers flight planning, scheduling, rostering, and the Integrated Operations Control Centre. As investigators examine whether weather, mechanical failure, or pilot error contributed to the Vienna-bound flight’s altitude loss, the findings could lead to stricter oversight and changes in operational protocols.
