The deadly Air India disaster reveals serious flaws in airline reform and aviation supervision

When the Tata group acquired the former national carrier three years ago, there were strong expectations that the financially troubled airline, which was notorious for its poor service and delays, would improve. However, on June 12, aspirations were dashed when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner heading for London, AI-171, exploded into a flame 32 seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and several others on the ground. “This is an irreparable damage that will take time to heal. It will benefit foreign carriers who operate international flights in India,” says Mark D. Martin, founder and CEO of aviation advisory & risk firm Martin Consulting.

He emphasises, “every accident or incident creates the next set of SOPs or corrections to be implemented,” and a strategic overhaul is imperative for the sector battered by frequent flyer complaints about sub-par service experience.

But safety professionals anticipated the calamity. According to aviation expert and Safety Matters Foundation founder Captain Amit Singh, "those who work in safety are not surprised that this accident happened."
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture reported in March 2025 that there were serious issues with security, safety, and service delivery standards, especially given the ongoing increase in air travel. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the organization currently looking into the AI-171 disaster, was also criticized by the panel for having "modest" financing. "You require more skilled labor. Singh makes reference to the more than 1,000 new aircraft that Indian carriers have bought, saying, "If you are not recruiting, you will be behind."

The accident compelled the DGCA to address Air India's prior shortcomings. Three officials involved in crew scheduling and rostering were instructed to "remove" by Air India on June 20. The company was also warned that any further infractions will result in severe enforcement measures, including license suspension. Last year, Air India was fined ~90 lakh for operating a plane with an untrained crew. A high-level committee headed by the Union home secretary has also been established by the government to carry out a "comprehensive inquiry" that is "independent."