Air India Archives - National Times

06 Oct

Air India Dreamliner’s Safety Turbine Deploys Mid-Flight, DGCA Launches Probe

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAir India, Top news

National Times Bureau :- In an unusual mid-air incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has opened an investigation after the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) on an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner unexpectedly deployed during a routine international flight from Amritsar to Birmingham. According to officials, the aircraft—operating as flight AI 117—continued its journey without any safety risk and landed smoothly at Birmingham. No injuries or disruptions to onboard systems were reported. The RAT is a small fold-out turbine designed as an emergency backup. It automatically comes into action only if an aircraft loses engine-driven power, using the outside…

07 Sep

Air India CEO Stresses Transparency, Highlights Operational Gains and Expansion

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaAir India, Air India Express expansion, Air India performance, Air India transparency, Campbell Wilson

New Delhi, September 7, 2025: Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson has reassured employees about the airline’s steady progress in performance, customer experience, and cultural transformation, while underlining its commitment to transparency and trust-building. In a letter to staff, Wilson acknowledged the challenges faced by all airlines, referencing the scrutiny that followed the AI171 crash in Ahmedabad earlier this year. He stressed the importance of providing “timely, clear, and accurate information” during crises, noting that Air India has deliberately chosen to be more open in reporting even minor incidents. While this approach has temporarily increased media coverage, Wilson pointed…

31 Aug

Air India Flight to Indore Makes Emergency Return to Delhi After Engine Fire Alert

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): An Indore-bound Air India flight was forced to make an emergency return to Delhi on Sunday morning after the cockpit crew received a warning of a possible fire in one of the aircraft’s engines shortly after takeoff. Flight AI2913, which departed from Delhi en route to Indore, was in the air for only a short time when a fire indication from the right engine appeared on the cockpit control panel, prompting the crew to take immediate safety measures. According to a statement from the airline, the pilots acted swiftly by shutting down the affected engine and…

13 Aug

Air India Announces Suspension of Non-Stop Services to Washington, D.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, World NewsAir India

Canada ( Rajeev Sharma): Air India has announced that it will discontinue its direct flights between New Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, citing reduced aircraft availability and continued airspace restrictions as primary reasons. This decision will result in the termination of the only direct air link between the two capitals operated by an Indian carrier. The suspension is attributed to a planned shortage in the airline's long-haul fleet, with 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft undergoing an extensive retrofit program. These upgrades, aimed at enhancing passenger comfort and experience, include modern seating, updated in-flight entertainment systems, and refreshed cabin…

12 Aug

Cockroach Scare on Air India’s San Francisco–Mumbai Flight Prompts Apology

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TravelAir India, cockroach scare, passenger complaint, San Francisco–Mumbai flight

San Francisco ( Bureau): Air India has issued a formal apology after two passengers reported spotting cockroaches during a recent flight from San Francisco to Mumbai. The unsettling discovery mid-flight prompted crew members to relocate the affected passengers to different seats. The aircraft underwent a thorough deep cleaning during a scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata before continuing its journey. According to an airline spokesperson, the incident has been taken seriously, and hygiene protocols have been reinforced to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

21 Jul

“We Want to Stand by the Truth”: Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Ahmedabad Plane Crash in Rajya Sabha

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAhmedabad, Air India, Pariament

New Delhi (National Times): As the Monsoon Session of Parliament 2025 continues, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the Rajya Sabha on Monday regarding the tragic Ahmedabad Air India plane crash, which claimed the lives of over 260 people, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the country’s history. Naidu assured the House that the government is committed to transparency and is awaiting the final investigation report to determine the exact cause of the crash. “We want to stand by the truth. We want to know the exact cause,” said the minister, stressing the government's…

17 Jul

Air India AI-171 Crash: Pilot’s Medical History Under Scrutiny Amid Mental Health Claims

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (National Times) In the ongoing investigation into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, attention has now turned to the mental health and medical records of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command, following claims that he may have been suffering from depression. The 56-year-old veteran pilot, who had logged over 15,000 flying hours and was months away from retirement, reportedly took time off in recent years and was deeply affected by the death of his mother in 2022. He had since moved from Delhi to Mumbai to care for his aging father and was…

17 Jul

Federation of Indian Pilots Raises Concerns Over AI-171 Crash Investigation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir India

Mumbai (National Times): In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has released an official statement expressing deep concern over the preliminary findings and the public discourse surrounding the incident. The statement, signed by Capt. C.S. Randhawa, President of FIP, criticizes the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation process. The FIP also objects to the manner in which the preliminary report has been interpreted and publicized. “The report, as released, lacks comprehensive data and appears to rely selectively on paraphrased cockpit voice recordings,” the statement reads. The…

16 Jul

Air India Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi Encounters Significant Service Failures, Further Eroding Passenger Trust

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, India, Trending, World NewsAir India

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Passengers on board Air India Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi on 15th July, experienced a disappointing journey, raising serious concerns regarding the airline's service quality. The long-haul flight was plagued by several issues, including malfunctioning entertainment systems and unresponsive in-flight staff, under the command of Pilot Parshant Pankaj.According to passengers, entertainment screens for nearly half the seats were non-functional throughout the flight. "The crew had no explanation—just repeated apologies," said one frustrated traveler. The situation is particularly alarming given the recent incident involving an Air India flight from London, which left many passengers shaken. Travelers stated…

17 Jun

Air India Flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to London Cancelled Due to Technical Glitch

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAir India

Ahmedabad (National Times): Air India’s highly anticipated flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to London was cancelled on Tuesday due to a technical issue, causing disruption for passengers and raising fresh concerns just days after a recent aviation mishap. The flight, which was scheduled to be the first London-bound service since the recent Air India crash that drew national attention, was to be operated by an aircraft that had arrived earlier in the day from Delhi. However, shortly before boarding, engineers detected a technical fault in the aircraft, prompting the airline to ground the plane as a safety precaution. “Flight AI…