Air India Flight from Delhi to Vienna Suffers Mid-Air Plunge; Pilots Investigated

An Air India flight, en route from Delhi to Vienna (AI-187), experienced a significant loss of altitude shortly after takeoff on June 14, prompting an immediate safety investigation. The aircraft descended approximately 900 feet, triggering stall and ground proximity warnings, which could have led to an aerodynamic stall or a collision. The crew managed to regain control of the Boeing 777 and stabilize the plane amid adverse weather conditions. Despite the safe landing of the flight in Vienna, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken strong action. The DGCA has grounded the involved pilots and initiated a thorough probe to determine the cause of the incident, considering factors such as weather, potential technical issues, and human error. This incident occurs at a time of heightened scrutiny for Air India’s safety procedures, following a recent DGCA audit that revealed deficiencies in maintenance and defect rectification across the airline’s fleet.