Air travel is one of the fastest ways to reach different cities and countries. Every day, thousands of people travel by flights from Delhi to other parts of the world. Air India is the national airline of India, and it operates many flights from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. People trust Air India for long journeys because it has been serving passengers for many years. But recently, passengers on an Air India flight had a very scary experience. This incident has raised many questions about the safety of Air India flights and the maintenance of their aircraft.
The shocking incident happened on June 14, 2025. An Air India flight from Delhi to Vienna suddenly dropped 900 feet in the air shortly after taking off. The flight was identified as AI-187, and it was a Boeing 777 aircraft. Many passengers were scared and panicked when the plane suddenly lost height. The sudden drop of 900 feet is a serious matter because it can cause panic, injuries, or worse situations. Thankfully, the pilots managed to control the aircraft, and no injuries were reported among the passengers on board.
The aircraft dropped 900 feet because of a possible technical issue or human error. When the aircraft suddenly lost height, warning alarms inside the cockpit started ringing. The Ground Proximity Warning System, which is also called GPWS, gave out loud alerts to the pilots. The warning included messages like “Don’t Sink” and “Stall.” The stall warning means that the aircraft is losing lift and could fall from the sky if not corrected. The “Don’t Sink” warning tells pilots that the aircraft is descending dangerously and they must act quickly.
The pilots on the AI-187 flight reacted quickly to the warnings and managed to stabilize the aircraft. They took control of the situation and made sure the aircraft returned to its correct flight path. After gaining control, the flight continued its journey to Vienna in Austria. The entire journey took around nine hours, and the aircraft landed safely at its destination. But the sudden drop and the warnings raised many concerns about the safety of Air India flights and the airline’s maintenance standards.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, also known as DGCA, is the aviation authority of India. The DGCA is responsible for ensuring the safety of all flights in India. After the AI-187 incident, the DGCA took immediate action. The DGCA ordered both pilots of the flight to be removed from active duty. This is called off-rostered, which means the pilots cannot operate any flights until the investigation is complete. The DGCA also launched a detailed probe into the incident to find out the exact cause.
The DGCA is investigating whether the sudden drop of the aircraft was due to a technical fault, maintenance problem, or pilot error. They are also checking if Air India followed all the safety protocols and maintenance rules. The DGCA has also called Air India’s Head of Safety for questioning. The Head of Safety is responsible for making sure that all Air India flights follow strict safety rules. The investigation will check the aircraft’s technical history, maintenance records, and the actions taken by the pilots during the incident.
This scare happened just a few hours after a tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed near Ahmedabad airport. This crash, identified as AI-171, was a terrible disaster where around 270 people lost their lives. The crash shocked the entire nation and raised serious questions about Air India’s safety standards. Just 38 hours after that tragic crash, the AI-187 flight from Delhi faced the 900-foot sudden drop, adding more worry to the situation.
The Ahmedabad crash is still being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, also called AAIB. The AAIB, along with experts from the United States National Transportation Safety Board, is checking the black boxes from the crashed aircraft. The black boxes contain the flight data and cockpit voice recordings. These recordings will help investigators understand what went wrong with the aircraft before it crashed. Meanwhile, the DGCA has ordered strict checks for all Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Air India’s fleet to ensure they are safe to fly.
Air India’s safety has come under strict observation after these incidents. The DGCA has also found multiple defects reappearing in Air India’s aircraft during previous inspections. Some defects related to engines, technical systems, and safety equipment were reported at airports in Delhi and Mumbai. These defects should have been fixed properly, but some of them reappeared, raising doubts about Air India’s maintenance practices. The DGCA has now ordered a fleet-wide safety audit of Air India to check all aircraft, maintenance records, and safety procedures.
The AI-187 scare has increased pressure on Air India to improve its safety standards. The government and aviation experts believe that strict action is necessary to prevent future accidents. The DGCA is also reviewing Air India’s operations, scheduling, pilot training, and maintenance systems. They are also checking the airline’s control center in Gurugram to ensure that flight operations are properly monitored. If serious faults are found, the DGCA may take stronger action against Air India, including suspending flights or imposing heavy fines.
Passengers who travel with Air India are now more concerned about their safety. Many people have shared their fear after hearing about the 900-foot drop incident and the Ahmedabad crash. Air travel should be safe, and people expect airlines to follow the highest safety standards. After these back-to-back incidents, the public wants the government and the DGCA to take strict action and ensure that airlines like Air India do not compromise on safety. Safety of passengers must always come first.
Aviation experts believe that technical faults in aircraft can happen, but they must be detected and fixed before flights take off. If maintenance teams miss important checks or fail to fix problems properly, it can lead to dangerous situations. In the case of AI-187, the investigation will reveal whether the aircraft had technical faults that were not corrected. Experts also say that pilots should be properly trained to handle emergencies like sudden altitude drops and warning alarms.
The Air India management has promised to fully cooperate with the investigation. They have said that the safety of passengers is their top priority. The airline has also started its internal review to check the incident. Air India has assured that they will take strict steps to improve safety, maintenance, and pilot training. The airline understands that incidents like the AI-187 scare and the Ahmedabad crash damage the public’s trust, and they must work hard to win back that trust.
The government has also asked other airlines to be extra careful after these incidents. All airlines have been directed to check their aircraft, engines, and safety equipment regularly. The DGCA has instructed airlines to follow strict maintenance schedules and report any technical faults immediately. Airlines must also ensure that their pilots undergo regular training for handling emergency situations. The aim is to avoid any future accidents and make air travel safer for everyone.
Air India has faced safety concerns in the past as well. But after joining the Tata Group, the airline was expected to improve its standards. The Tata Group promised to make Air India a world-class airline with top safety measures. However, these recent incidents have raised doubts about how much improvement has actually taken place. The government and the public will closely watch Air India’s actions in the coming months to see if they can fix these problems and prevent future incidents.
The sudden 900-foot drop of AI-187 is a reminder that air safety requires constant monitoring and improvement. Even small mistakes or technical faults can lead to big dangers in aviation. Experts say that aviation is one of the safest modes of transport, but only if airlines strictly follow safety rules. Passengers trust airlines with their lives, and that trust must never be broken. Airlines, authorities, and the government must work together to maintain the highest safety standards.
The DGCA has also assured the public that strict action will be taken if anyone is found guilty of negligence. The investigation will be transparent, and those responsible for the AI-187 scare will face punishment if required. The DGCA will also share its findings with international aviation bodies to maintain global safety standards. India cannot afford to have its aviation safety reputation damaged, especially when millions of passengers fly every year.
People hope that the Air India scare and the Ahmedabad crash will be lessons for the entire aviation industry. Airlines must not take safety lightly, and every fault must be corrected immediately. Aircraft must undergo thorough checks before each flight, and pilots must be trained to handle emergencies calmly and efficiently. Only then can passengers fly with confidence and peace of mind.
The Air India AI-187 incident has made it clear that constant vigilance is required to keep flights safe. The authorities, airlines, and passengers all have a role to play in ensuring safety. As investigations continue, people are waiting for answers and hoping that such incidents do not happen again in the future. The safety of the skies must always remain the top priority.