Dreamliner crash triggers mental health alarms as over 100 Air India pilots call in sick

In a significant fallout following the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, 112 Air India pilots, including 51 commanders and 61 first officers, went on medical leave just four days after the incident, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed Parliament.

The crash has sparked serious concerns about the psychological toll on the airline crew. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Mohol highlighted the urgent need to address the mental well-being of flight crew, especially in the aftermath of such traumatic events.

He noted that the aviation ministry had already issued directives in February 2023, mandating airlines and airport authorities to ensure "quick and effective methods to assess mental health" as part of crew medical evaluations.

In addition, authorities were instructed to roll out customised training modules for both pilots and air traffic controllers to help them manage stress, anxiety, and other potential psychological concerns. These include standalone mental health awareness sessions and the establishment of peer support groups, designed to provide early-stage assistance to affected personnel.

Meanwhile, Air India has confirmed that it received four show-cause notices from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regarding violations related to crew fatigue management and training compliance, further amplifying concerns about systemic operational lapses.

As investigations into the cause of the crash and its broader implications continue, the spotlight is now firmly on how Indian carriers and regulators address the interconnected challenges of flight safety and crew mental health in the high-stakes aviation sector.