Aviation
After AI717 Crash, Another Setback for Air India: Pilot Collapses Before Delhi-Bound Flight
Air India flight AI2414 faced a tense delay in Bengaluru as the pilot collapsed minutes before takeoff, spotlighting airline safety again after the AI717 crash.
In a shocking mid-air travel scare that once again casts light on India’s aviation safety ecosystem, an Air India flight preparing for takeoff from Bengaluru to Delhi was delayed by over 90 minutes — not due to weather or technical issues, but because the pilot collapsed in the cockpit just before departure.
The incident comes on the heels of the ai717 flight crash, pushing Air India back into the spotlight for yet another troubling reason.
According to reports, Air India flight AI2414 was scheduled to depart from Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport at 3:00 am on July 4.
As passengers boarded and final preparations were being made, panic struck when the designated pilot reportedly fell seriously ill inside the cockpit. He collapsed just as he was about to sign off the mandatory technical log — the final procedure before officially taking charge of the aircraft.
An alternate pilot was quickly arranged, and the flight eventually departed at 4:36 am — around 90 minutes behind schedule — and landed safely in New Delhi at approximately 7:30 am, as per a flight tracking website.
Confirming the incident, Air India stated:“He is currently stable but continues to be under the supervision of doctors at the same hospital. Consequently, AI2414 was delayed and operated by another member of our cockpit crew. Our immediate priority is to assist the pilot and his family to ensure his speedy recovery.”
The medical emergency has raised fresh questions about Air India’s crew management practices, particularly at a time when the airline is already under regulatory scrutiny.
It is worth noting that India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), had recently cracked down on Air India over its pilot rostering system. The DGCA found irregularities in the way flight crew schedules were being managed and ordered the transfer of three senior officials responsible for the flawed system.
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