An Air India flight from Delhi to Vienna dropped 900 feet mid-air shortly after takeoff, triggering cockpit warnings and a DGCA probe
900 Feet in Seconds: What Happened on Flight AI-187?
On June 14, 2025, Air India’s Flight AI-187, a Boeing 777 bound for Vienna took off from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2:56 AM. Barely minutes into its ascent, the aircraft experienced a sudden and sharp 900-foot drop, triggering multiple cockpit warnings including stall alerts and repeated “Don’t sink” cautions from the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS).
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The incident occurred just 38 hours after the catastrophic crash of AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed over 270 lives. Though Flight AI-187 eventually stabilized and completed its nine-hour journey to Vienna safely, the near-miss has sent shockwaves through India’s aviation sector.
According to reports, the aircraft’s stick shaker a device that vibrates the control column to warn of an impending stall was activated, indicating a critical loss of lift. The pilots managed to regain control, but the altitude loss during initial climb has raised serious questions about procedural adherence and situational awareness.
Pilots Grounded, DGCA Launches Full-Scale Investigation
In response to the incident, both pilots have been off-rostered, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched a comprehensive probe. The aviation watchdog has summoned Air India’s Head of Safety and initiated a fleet-wide safety audit, citing recurring maintenance lapses and inadequate defect rectification across the airline’s operations.
The investigation will examine:
- Flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) logs
- Weather conditions at the time of takeoff (Delhi was reportedly under thunderstorm activity)
- Pilot response protocols and crew resource management
- Aircraft maintenance records and recent technical snags
A DGCA official confirmed that the audit will also assess flight scheduling, rostering, and the functioning of Air India’s Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC).
This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny following the Ahmedabad crash, and aviation experts warn that systemic issues not isolated errors may be at play.
A Wake-Up Call for India’s Aviation Safety Culture?
While the aircraft landed safely in Vienna, the implications of this near-disaster are far-reaching. The fact that a wide-body jet carrying hundreds of passengers could lose altitude so dramatically, just days after a fatal crash has shaken public confidence and exposed potential cracks in India’s aviation safety framework.
Key concerns include:
- Pilot fatigue and training gaps amid aggressive scheduling
- Delayed maintenance and defect reporting
- Overreliance on automated systems without adequate manual override training
- Lack of real-time oversight from ground control during critical flight phases
Aviation analysts argue that India’s rapid expansion in air travel must be matched by robust safety protocols, transparent audits, and accountability mechanisms. The DGCA’s decision to involve international observers in the Ahmedabad crash probe is a step in the right direction but more systemic reforms may be needed.
Meanwhile, passengers are demanding answers. “We trust our lives to these airlines. A 900-foot drop isn’t turbulence, it’s negligence,” said one frequent flyer on social media.
Conclusion:
The Delhi-Vienna flight scare is more than a technical glitch, it’s a red flag. As the DGCA digs deeper and Air India faces mounting scrutiny, the incident underscores the urgent need for a culture of safety, not just compliance. In aviation, near-misses are warnings. The question is: will India heed them before another tragedy strikes?
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