An Air India flight from Delhi to Vienna experienced a sudden 900-foot drop shortly after takeoff, just days after the tragic crash of flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, The Times of India reported. The incident has prompted an official investigation, and both pilots have been grounded pending the outcome.
According to a media report, flight AI-187, a Boeing 777, took off from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport at 2:56 am on June 14 and landed safely in Vienna after a flight lasting nine hours and eight minutes. However, soon after departure, the aircraft abruptly lost altitude, triggering multiple warnings including stall alerts and repeated “Don’t sink” messages from the ground proximity warning system.
Air India confirmed that the pilots quickly regained control of the aircraft and continued the flight despite turbulent weather conditions. “The matter was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as per protocol,” a spokesperson for the airline said on Tuesday. “Following data analysis from the flight recorders, a detailed investigation was launched. The pilots have been off-rostered pending the probe’s outcome.”
The DGCA has launched a comprehensive investigation and summoned Air India’s Head of Safety for a detailed explanation. The incident occurred just 38 hours after a fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on a London-bound Air India flight that took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing approximately 270 people.
A recent DGCA safety audit revealed recurring lapses in Air India’s aircraft maintenance and poor defect rectification practices. The regulator is now examining whether the Vienna-bound flight’s altitude drop was due to weather, technical issues, or human error. The findings could prompt stricter inspections and revisions in Air India’s operational procedures.
Additionally, the DGCA initiated a focused audit at Air India’s headquarters in Gurugram on June 23. The audit covers critical areas such as flight operations, scheduling, crew rostering, and the functioning of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC).