Coming soon, curbs on carrying power banks on aircraft

Coming soon, curbs on carrying power banks on aircraft

 Saurabh.Sinha@timesofindia.com 23.10.2025

New Delhi : India may soon adopt stricter rules for power banks on board aircraft following recent instances worldwide, including one in the country, of lithium-ion batteries catching fire. On Sunday, a passenger’s power bank caught fire on a Dimapur-bound IndiGo flight when the aircraft was taxiing at Delhi airport.

 Now, Directorate General of Civil Aviation is “taking up this issue”, said a senior official. The regulator is learnt to be taking technical inputs on the issue. Foreign airlines are increasingly putting restrictions on power banks. Some require the power bank to be kept in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front and not in overhead bins. 

From Oct 1, Dubai-based Emirates “prohibited” use any power bank. While it allows a passenger to carry one power bank under 100 Watt Hours, Singapore Airlines from April 1 did not allow flyers to charge power banks via onboard USB ports, or use them to charge their devices.

 Last week, there was a lithium battery fire on an Air China flight from China to South Korea, forcing it to be diverted to Shanghai. 

Fuel leak scare: IndiGo flight to Srinagar lands in Varanasi An IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Srinagar with 166 people on board was diverted to Varanasi on Wednesday after the crew suspected a fuel leak. 

The pilots sought priority landing in Varanasi, where they safely touched down at 4.06pm, officials said. The aircraft — an Airbus 320neo — remains grounded for checks. TNN

Diwali rush: Airfares witness fourfold surge despite govt’s warning

Diwali rush: Airfares witness fourfold surge despite govt’s warning 

NO CAP ON PRICES 

Venkadesan.S@timesofindia.com 18.10.2025

Chennai : Flight fares to different parts of the country and within the state skyrocketed on Friday, as the airlines decided to cash in on the surge in demand for tickets ahead of Diwali. The flight fares to major metro cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, saw a fourfold increase. 

Tickets were sold for as much as ₹30,000 to Delhi, against the regular fare of ₹7,000. Flight fares to Mumbai soared to ₹20,000, while the regular fare would be around ₹4,000. The tickets to Kolkata cost ₹22,000, while destinations such as Guwahati also saw a surge in ticket fares up to ₹21,000. 

Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu had instructed airlines not to hike ticket fares to unreasonably high amounts during festivals. He directed the tariff monitoring unit of the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to maintain a strict watch on airfares and requested passengers to register complaints on high airfares on AirSewa, the ministry’s passenger grievance redress portal. 

Apart from metros, fares have been hiked manifold to intra-state destinations such as Trichy, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Salem. The Indian Air Passengers’Association has denounced the practice as unfair and unjust. “There should be a cap on airfares during festival seasons to keep flight journeys accessible to all people,” said the association president Sankar.

Why airlines are cracking down on power banks — Emirates’ latest move explained

Why airlines are cracking down on power banks — Emirates’ latest move explained

 Emirates Power Bank Ban October 2025, Airline Flight Rules Update: Starting October 1, 2025, Emirates passengers will not be allowed to use power banks during flights. Written by Shubham Chhabra October 1, 2025 20:33 IST Follow Us

Emirates Power Bank Ban 2025: New rules for flyers from October 1.

Travellers on Emirates flights will no longer be allowed to use power banks in the cabin starting October 1, 2025. Under the new policy, passengers may carry one power bank up to 100 watt-hours in their hand luggage, but it must remain switched off throughout the flight. Charging devices using power banks or the aircraft’s in-seat outlets is strictly prohibited.

Behind the Ban Emirates stated the decision followed a safety review. “The use of power banks has grown significantly in recent years, leading to more battery-related incidents in aviation. This measure aims to reduce such risks,” the airline said.

The airline highlighted that growing reliance on power banks has contributed to a rise in lithium battery-related incidents in aviation. By restricting their use, Emirates aims to reduce risks linked to overheating or malfunctioning batteries.

Safety Concerns Prompt New Rule Emirates said the restriction comes after a safety review. “The use of power banks has grown significantly in recent years, leading to more battery-related incidents in aviation. This measure aims to reduce such risks,” the airline explained.

The airline noted that frequent use of portable chargers has contributed to a rise in lithium battery-related hazards, such as overheating or malfunction. By banning in-flight usage, Emirates hopes to lower the risk of potential incidents.

Storage Guidelines for Passengers

Passengers must ensure that their power banks have clearly visible capacity labels and can only be stored under the seat or in the seat pocket ahead—not in overhead bins. Emirates also reminded travellers that aircraft are equipped with charging ports, so devices should be fully charged before boarding, especially on longer journeys.

Power banks, commonly used for smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and even laptops, typically contain lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, which can be hazardous if damaged or misused.

Global Rules Back Up Restriction 

Worldwide aviation authorities, including FAA, TSA, CAA, and IATA, already regulate power bank use. Generally, devices must be in hand luggage and not exceed 100Wh (about 27,000mAh). Some carriers allow power banks up to 160Wh with prior permission, but anything beyond that is prohibited. Emirates’ policy enforces stricter limits to maximize safety.

Travellers should check that their power banks are undamaged and for personal use only, and charge all devices before travel, as airport or in-seat outlets remain the only charging options.

IndiGo Airlines Adds New International Flights from Mumbai with 787 IndiGo Airlines Adds New International Flights from Mumbai with 787

The direct Mumbai to Copenhagen flight reduces travel time by eliminating layovers in European hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Doha.

By

Mahesh Darkunde

September 16, 20253 Mins Read

IndiGo's first-ever long-haul flight to Manchester with B787-9 pushback at Mumbai Airport | Photo: IndiGo

GURGAON-

IndiGo Airlines (6E)

will launch direct international flights from Mumbai (BOM) to Copenhagen (CPH) starting October 8, 2025. The route marks the airline’s first entry into Scandinavia, expanding its European network and improving access for Indian travelers.

The service will operate three times weekly using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, leased on a wet lease from. 

Norse Atlantic Airways (N0)

. This move underscores IndiGo’s focus on scaling up its international long-haul operations.

Photo: AeroConcepts

IndiGo New International Flights

The Mumbai to Copenhagen route provides a non-stop connection between India’s financial hub and Denmark’s capital city.

Flights will depart Mumbai at 04:35 IST and arrive in Copenhagen at 10:05 local time. Return flights are scheduled to depart at 12:30 and land in Mumbai just past midnight.

Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers highlighted that this marks IndiGo’s 44th international destination. With Copenhagen as a new hub, the airline now serves 138 destinations worldwide.

The route also positions Denmark as a gateway to the Nordic region, improving travel links between India and Scandinavia.

Over 180 passengers travelling from Dubai to Kochi, stranded at Coimbatore airport

Over 180 passengers travelling from Dubai to Kochi, stranded at Coimbatore airport

The flight was scheduled to land in Kochi at 8:30 pm on Friday night, but weather conditions forced it to divert to Coimbatore airport, where it landed around 9:30 pm.

SpiceJet flight image used for representational purposes only.(File Photo | PTI)

Express News Service

Updated on:

17 Aug 2025, 7:46 am

COIMBATORE: Tension gripped Coimbatore airport late on Friday night after more than 180 passengers of a private airline, traveling from Dubai to Kochi, were stranded without proper arrangements for food, accommodation, and onward travel.

A SpiceJet flight from Dubai to Kochi, carrying 184 passengers, including children, women, and heart patients, departed from Dubai at 2:20 pm on Friday after a 55-minute delay. The flight was scheduled to land in Kochi at 8:30 pm on Friday night, but weather conditions forced it to divert to Coimbatore airport, where it landed around 9:30 pm.

The stranded passengers immediately sought help from airline staff, demanding basic amenities such as water, food, and transportation to Kochi. After a significant delay, the private airline arranged bus facilities only at 2:30 am on Saturday morning. However, many distressed passengers, according to sources, had already left for Kerala by hiring private vehicles.

"All 184 of us reached Dubai airport around 9 am on Friday, as our boarding time was 12:25 pm. The flight, which was supposed to depart at 1:25 pm, was delayed by an hour and was expected to reach Kochi by 8:30 pm. However, the cabin crew informed us that we were landing at Coimbatore due to adverse weather conditions, and we arrived around 9:30 pm. We were kept in the aircraft for about an hour, hoping the flight would immediately return to Kochi. An hour later, the crew informed us that they could not fly to Kochi as the weather had worsened and said they would arrange bus facilities for us to reach Kerala by road. However, they failed to make any such arrangements," said Resmi Printo, a freelance journalist from Kerala who works in the UAE.

"Upset with their response, the passengers began to question them, but the staff did not know what to do. After a heated argument, someone finally arranged two buses at 3 am. on Saturday, and about 50 people boarded them to get to Kerala. I reached my hometown, Athani in Thrissur, at 6.30 am. on Saturday, and those going to Kochi took even longer. The journey was incredibly difficult, as it took about 20 hours without proper food or a place to stay. Women, children, and heart patients had an even harder time. Only about one-third of the passengers used the buses. The rest left for Kerala by hiring private vehicles," Resmi added.

When questioned, a senior official stated the private airline had closed its office after it withdrew its services from Coimbatore and did not have staff there. The airline is currently establishing a new unit, hoping to resume service in a couple of months. The official explained that the lack of staff and proper links with hotels and other necessary services caused their failure to handle the passengers appropriately.

"We consistently insist that all flight operators arrange basic facilities for their passengers. In this case, they failed to do so," the officer said.

The flight departed for Kochi at 3pm on Saturday, a senior official at Coimbatore airport said.

AI Express passenger inadvertently flies to Bhubaneswar; airline probes

AI Express passenger inadvertently flies to Bhubaneswar; airline probes

A source in the know on Thursday said the male passenger took the flight from Srinagar to Delhi and instead of getting down in the national capital, the person was onboard the flight to Bhubaneswar.

PTI Last Updated : 31 July 2025, 15:53 

New Delhi: An Air India Express passenger, who was to get down at Delhi airport, inadvertently continued his journey in the same aircraft to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, and the airline said it is investigating the matter to address any lapses.

A source in the know on Thursday said the male passenger took the flight from Srinagar to Delhi and instead of getting down in the national capital, the person was onboard the flight to Bhubaneswar.

Both services were operated by the same aircraft. The matter came to light after the person informed the crew, the source added.

Specific details about the passenger and the aircraft could not be immediately ascertained.

In a statement on Thursday, the airline said that on July 30, a passenger transiting through Delhi on another flight inadvertently continued on the aircraft onward to Bhubaneswar.

"An internal investigation is being conducted to identify and address any lapses, while reiterating SOPs and internal briefings across stations to prevent recurrence," it said.

Generally, airline staff check the boarding passes and baggage of passengers in connecting flights at the particular transit airports as part of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Passenger slapped on IndiGo flight, goes missing in Kolkata

Passenger slapped on IndiGo flight, goes missing in Kolkata 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

02.08.2025

Silchar/New Delhi/Kolkata: 

A youth from Assam’s Cachar district slapped by a co-passenger on a Mumbai-Kolkata IndiGo flight on Friday, while apparently experiencing a panic attack, missed his connecting flight to Silchar and remained untraceable late into the night. 

The victim’s family, waiting for him at Silchar airport, are distressed as his phone was unreachable. The assaulter was handed over to security agencies in Kolkata by the airline. There was no word on whether the victim was taken into protective custody by airline or Kolkata airport authorities for medical attention or investigation purposes. The youth works at a gym in Mumbai and was returning home to Katigorah, in Assam’s Cachar district, when the incident occurred. “When we didn’t find him on the Silchar flight we contacted the local authorities and even went to Udharband police station, near Silchar airport. But we received no concrete information about his whereabouts,” said a relative. The victim’s father, who is battling cancer, was very worried. “He was working hard in Mumbai to support us and was returning home. I saw the video this morning and now I don’t know where my son is,” he said.

With more AI pilots reporting sick after Guj crash, DGCA issues circular on mental health

With more AI pilots reporting sick after Guj crash, DGCA issues circular on mental health

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK  25.07.2025

New Delhi : Air India has reported an increase in sick leaves by pilots in the aftermath of the AI-171 crash on June 12, prompting Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ask airlines to take steps for mental wellbeing of crew members. “Air India’s 112 pilots, comprising 51 commanders and 61 first officers, reported sick on June 16… DGCA has already issued a medical circular regarding mental health of flight crews and air traffic controllers,” MoS for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol told Lok Sabha Thursday. DGCA had earlier this month directed Indian carriers, particularly the major ones like Air India and IndiGo, to hold a post-trauma mental health workshop for their flight crew. Several pilots, especially of Boeing 787s, have been reporting trauma after the Gujarat crash involving an aircraft of the same type. “The conversation in cockpits these days is mostly limited to what could have caused the crash. What is it that really went wrong? That is really eating us up. We are not buying the pilot suicide theory that has been fuelled by AAIB’s extremely questionable preliminary report,” said multiple pilots. The DGCA medical circular advises “quick and effective methods to assess mental health that can easily be performed by DGCA empanelled medical examiners, and the introduction of a separate, standalone and customised training capsule for the flight crew/ATCOs to recognise and manage the adverse effects of mental health conditions”.

Several pilots, especially of Boeing 787s, have been reporting trauma after the Gujarat crash involving an aircraft of the same type

Swarm of bees delays flight at Surat airport

Swarm of bees delays flight at Surat airport 

Yagnesh.Mehta@timesofindia.com 08.07.2025

Surat : A swarm of bees that decided to cluster on a SuratJaipur IndiGo flight, scheduled to depart at 4.40pm on Monday, delayed it by at least 50 minutes on Monday. The airline staff loading luggage on the flight first noticed the bees buzzing together on one side of the aircraft’s cargo compartment shutter, and quickly alerted the airline and airport staff. 

“We informed the airport’s fire team. They used a jet of water from a fire tender to remove the bees from the open shutter,” an airport official said. Even for the fire team this was their first such encounter, the official said. 

No passenger or worker was injured in the incident. Many passengers, already aboard the flight, captured on their phones the sight of bees swarming on the cargo compartment shutter. “We are unsure where the bees came from,” an airline official said. There are no known beehives on the airport premises, he said, adding, “Our teams, along with security experts, conducted a thorough inspection of the airport in March. No beehive was found at that time.”

50-MINUTE DELAY: No passenger or worker was injured in the incident

Melbourne to Brisbane: Snake found on board; Virgin Australia flight delayed by 2 hours

Melbourne to Brisbane: Snake found on board; Virgin Australia flight delayed by 2 hours

A Virgin Australia flight from Melbourne to Brisbane faced a two-hour delay after a 60-centimetre green tree snake was found in the cargo hold. Airline staff member Pelley discovered the snake, initially fearing it was venomous. He successfully captured it, preventing a potential full aircraft evacuation.

TOI World Desk

TIMESOFINDIA.COM

Jul 2, 2025, 15:11 IST

Virgin Australia flight delayed by 2 hours.

A domestic Virgin Australia flight was delayed for nearly two hours after a 60-centimetre (2 foot) green tree snake was discovered in the plane's cargo hold, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday, when passengers were boarding Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport, bound for Brisbane. Airline staff Pelley told the Associated Press that the snake was partially hidden behind a panel when he entered the cargo hold.

Although the snake later turned out to be non-venomous, it initially appeared dangerous in the dimly lit cargo hold, Pelley said. “It wasn’t until after I caught the snake that I realized it wasn’t venomous. Until that point, it looked very dangerous to me,”.

The snake was partially concealed behind a panel and could have easily slipped deeper into the aircraft. Pelley warned airline staff and an engineer that if the snake got away, a full evacuation would be necessary.

Fortunately, he managed to catch it on the first attempt. “If I hadn’t, engineers might still be pulling apart the Boeing 737 looking for it,” he added.

Due to quarantine restrictions, the snake cannot be released back into the wild. Instead, it has been handed over to a Melbourne veterinarian who will place it with a licensed snake keeper.

IndiGo debuts direct Mumbai-Amsterdam flights: Eyes leisure, business & student travel; check flight schedule

IndiGo debuts direct Mumbai-Amsterdam flights: Eyes leisure, business & student travel; check flight schedule 

TOI Business DeskTIMESOFINDIA.COM

Jul 4, 2025, 15:09 IST

IndiGo Indian airline IndiGo has launched direct flight services between Mumbai and Amsterdam. The new route, announced on Wednesday, marks the airline's second major long-haul launch in two days, following the start of Mumbai-Manchester flights.

 “This route will not only enhance connectivity for leisure, business, and student travellers, but also deepen the thriving partnership between India and the Netherlands, culturally, economically, and diplomatically," said IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers as per PTI. The Mumbai-Amsterdam route is part of IndiGo’s broader effort to grow its long-haul network and make international travel more affordable and accessible for Indian travelers. 

The Gurugram-based airline, which currently operates over 400 aircraft and flies to more than 40 international destinations, plans to introduce direct flights to London, Athens, and eight other international cities during the current financial year. Flight Schedule of the latest route: Flight No

Origin

Destination

Destination

Frequency

Departure

Arrival

6E 0021

Mumbai

Amsterdam

Wed, Fri, Sun

2-Jul-25

5.20

11.00

6E 0022

Amsterdam

Mumbai

Mon, Wed, Fri

2-Jul-25

14.00

2.25

*All timings are in local time zones. 

All that passengers need to know about the Mumbai-Amsterdam flight 

The Mumbai-Amsterdam service will operate three times a week using IndiGo’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. 

The aircraft includes 56 IndiGoStretch seats arranged in a comfortable 2x3x2 layout, offering a spacious 43-inch seat pitch. 

In economy class, there are 282 seats in a 3x3x3 configuration, each providing a generous 31-inch seat pitch to ensure a comfortable journey. 

The airline has entered into a damp lease agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways to add six wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft to its fleet by 2026. 

Looking ahead, the airline’s long-haul fleet will be further strengthened by the arrival of Airbus A321XLRs later this year and Airbus A350-900s from 2027. 

IndiGo said that passengers flying to or from Amsterdam will also benefit from seamless onward connections across its domestic network of over 90 Indian cities. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest in the world, serves as a key hub for European travel, offering enhanced connectivity to destinations across Europe, North America, and Canada.

Simulation of AI flight that crashed puts focus on double-engine failure

Simulation of AI flight that crashed puts focus on double-engine failure 

02.07.2025

Twenty days after the crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad that killed all but one of the 242 people on board, investigators and the airline are studying possible dual engine failure as a scenario that prevented the Boeing 787 jet from staying airborne.

Pilots from the airline reenacted the aircraft’s parameters in a flight simulator, including with the landing gear deployed and the wing flaps retracted, and found those settings alone didn’t cause a crash, according to people familiar with the probe. The result, alongside the previous discovery that an emergency-power turbine deployed seconds before impact, has reinforced the focus on a technical failure as one possible cause. 

The simulated flight was conducted separately from the official probe being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The plane was powered by two engines made by General Electric Co. Video footage of the aircraft showed the plane struggling to gain altitude after taking off, and then sinking back to the ground, where it exploded. Boeing declined to comment and deferred any questions to AAIB, while GE said that it cannot comment on an active investigation. AAIB and Air India did not respond to a request for comment.

‘All my medicines are in that luggage, I can’t wait another day’: Chaos at Patna airport as 2 Air India Express flights land without baggage; flyers promised home delivery

‘All my medicines are in that luggage, I can’t wait another day’: Chaos at Patna airport as 2 Air India Express flights land without baggage; flyers promised home delivery

Chaos erupted at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport on Saturday as passengers on two Air India Express flights, IX-2936 from Bengaluru and IX-1634 from Chennai, discovered that their checked baggage was missing.

 Weary travelers waited in vain at the designated conveyor belts, only to realize none of their luggage had arrived.

Faryal RumiTNN

Jun 22, 2025, 17:54 IST

Passengers on two Air India Express flights, IX-2936 from Bengaluru and IX-1634 from Chennai, experienced significant inconvenience upon arrival at Patna's airport on Saturday morning. PATNA: Passengers arriving on two Air India Express flights at Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport on Saturday morning were stunned to find that none of their checked baggage had made it to the city. What began as a routine landing turned into chaos as weary flyers circled the empty conveyor belts only to realise their belongings were missing entirely. The incident involved flights IX-2936 from Bengaluru and IX-1634 from Chennai, which landed at 8.23am and 8.50am, respectively. Passengers were directed to collect their luggage from belts 4 and 3, but after prolonged waits, it became clear that no baggage was arriving. "I waited for more than an hour, but the belt was empty," said Vivek Sharma, a passenger from Bengaluru.

'Luggage to be delivered to passengers home addresses' "Airport staff informed us that due to bad weather in Bengaluru, our luggage was not loaded. Despite repeated enquiries at the airline's counter, we were given no clear answers about where our bags were or when we would get them back," Sharma added. 

Tempers flared as frustrated travellers confronted airline staff. One furious flyer shouted that the airline should be shut down if it could not handle basic operations. Another demanded same-day delivery. "All my medicines are in that luggage. I can't wait another day," he said. CISF personnel and airline staff had to step in to manage the crowd, assuring passengers that arrangements were being made to bring the baggage on subsequent flights. Airline representatives blamed the issue on bad weather in Bengaluru and Chennai, compounded by Patna airport's short runway. They also cited weight restrictions and safety protocols as reasons for not loading the baggage. 

"The luggage will be delivered to your home addresses once it arrives," airline staff told the crowd. Airport officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the primary issue was the aircraft's load factor. "This happens occasionally when departing from Patna where airlines are forced to unload checked baggage to meet the maximum take-off weight. The airport's shorter runway makes it more likely," said an official. As of Saturday evening, 

Air India had not issued an official statement. Airport authorities, however, indicated that the missing luggage would likely reach Patna by Sunday. Affected passengers remained stuck with little more than their cabin bags and mounting frustration. The episode has once again placed Air India in the spotlight, raising questions about its operational preparedness and passenger communication.

MBBS student dies just days before exam

MBBS student dies just days before exam 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  19.06.2025

Ahmedabad : Among the four hostel students who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 was 21-year-old Rakesh Diyora , a second-year MBBS student from a village near Talaja in Bhavnagar district. Diyora had returned to the medical students’ hostel on June 11 hoping to prepare for his upcoming June 16 examination — a test he would now never take. 

Diyora was having lunch with friends in the hostel mess when the tail section of the ill-fated aircraft came crashing down on the premises. The mess area, where several students had gathered, bore the brunt of the impact. Diyora’s brother-in-law, Alpesh Chauhan, who lives in Ahmedabad, recounted with anguish the final moments they shared. 

“Rakesh had been staying at our house for the past few days. On Wednesday, he told us he needed to return to the hostel to collect his books and start preparing for his exams. We never imagined that would be the last time we would see him.” Chauhan said panic set in when news of the crash broke. “I kept calling him, but there was no response. 

We hoped for the best but feared the worst. And then his name appeared on the list of victims.” Diyora’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the medical college community, where he was known as a sincere and hardworking student.

Man who dodged AI 171 crash boards AI 159 with prayers With Fear And Hope, 200-Plus Passengers Get Onboard Renamed A’bad-Gatwick Flight

 

AI 171 is now ‘AI 159’: Among flyers, man who had to defer June 12 trip to tend to sick mom

 AI 171 is now ‘AI 159’: Among flyers, man who had to defer June 12 trip to tend to sick mom 

Ahmedabad :17.06.2025

First flights are all about nervous excitement, but this one was always going to be different. AI 159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick – the first on that route since the June 12 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash – took off Monday on the sombre wings of remembrance and prayer, ferrying at least one passenger who might have been on the crashed aircraft four days earlier had his mother not taken ill suddenly.

Jayesh Ramji was approaching Gate 4 of Terminal 2, a hand tightly clasping his cabin bag, when his mind raced back through the surreal last few days of his trip to India. “I was to return on AI 171. I postponed my travel to June 16 because my mother was unwell. All I want is to get back home safe,” said the 34-year-old London shop assistant with roots in Diu. His wasn’t the only face betraying more than a trace of emotion ahead of renumbered flight AI 159’s 4.30pm departure, over three hours later than scheduled. 

The terminal was seemingly quieter than usual, with families clinging a little tighter, and goodbyes lasting a tad longer. Raas Mishra, 28, had just said goodbye to his tearyeyed parents. “They were scared. I am a tad nervous, too, but I have flown Air India before. I trust their pilots,” said the young man, employed with a logistics firm in London.

For 72-year-old Kokila Patel of Patan, the announcement of a delay – the Dreamliner was to take off at 1.10pm – added to what she described as “emotional exhaustion”. She was scheduled to fly out on June 14, but the flight was cancelled after the crash two days earlier. “My son said I should book another airline. But I had already confirmed my travel on June 16 with Air India by then,” she said. “I trust God and the airline. I want to go back, not stay scared forever.”

Double engine failure or human error? Pilots explain likely causes

Double engine failure or human error? Pilots explain likely causes 

FROM THE COCKPIT Subhro.Niyogi@timesofindia.com  15.06.2025

Kolkata : Experienced pilots, awaiting investigation results of the Air India Dreamliner crash, suggest two possible causes: an extremely rare simultaneous engine failure or incorrect cockpit response during an emergency, after eliminating other scenarios. “What is clear from visuals of the crash, especially the airport CCTV footage, is the aircraft took off normally before experiencing a loss of lift, possibly due to loss of thrust on both engines. 

This can happen only if both engines stall,” said an Air India captain, adding the sound of the plane from an amateur video suggested the whine of a Ram Air Turbine, a backup power source that is deployed automatically in the B-787 aircraft when it detects loss of both engines. The captain explained that the B-787’s sophisticated systems made engine stalling due to electrical or software issues unlikely, given its multiple backup systems. Fuel contamination is unlikely during take-off when fuel flow is maximum. 

An IndiGo veteran dismissed incorrect flap and slat deployment or landing gear retraction issues as causes. “Any of this would have caused a drag, but not caused the aircraft to fall off the sky. In any case, there will be alerts if there is an incorrect setting for pilots to take corrective measures,” the pilot said. 

A retired AI pilot dismissed bird strikes as a cause, noting no visible large bird flocks or smoke trail in CCTV footage. Dismissing sabotage theories, pilots proposed a scenario, where one engine’s failure during take-off led to incorrect cockpit actions, resulting in thrust loss in both engines. 

“A pilot of an IndiGo flight, which was next to the Ahmedabad runway, reported a loud bang to ATC around V1. The V1 is the take-off decision speed after which a pilot can no longer stop the aircraft but must continue with take-off. A compressor stall could have taken out one engine. After take-off, the plane climbed on the second engine. The pilot usually then reports the engine loss to ATC, turns around and lands. 

From the visuals, we know the plane encountered a sudden loss of lift during initial climb-out and then started to descend rapidly. This could have been due to the thrust lever of the live engine being pulled back that left the plane without any thrust,” the pilot reasoned, adding this mistake is not uncommon during simulator training.

Another pilot explained engine failure procedures during take-off required pilots to take action to secure the failed engine from further damage. If thrust is pulled back from the live engine, the plane will stall. Quick thrust restoration attempts might be manageable at higher altitudes but could be fatal at 600ft-800ft.

Narrow escape for 180 passengers as Air India flight aborts landing 200 feet above Chennai runway

Narrow escape for 180 passengers as Air India flight aborts landing 200 feet above Chennai runway 

An Air India flight carrying 180 passengers from Singapore narrowly avoided disaster at Chennai airport on Wednesday. The Airbus aborted its landing just before touchdown due to a high descent rate and sudden crosswinds. The pilots executed a go-around, and the flight landed safely on its second attempt 30 minutes later.

TNN

May 28, 2025, 23:21 IST

CHENNAI: Around 180 passengers aboard an Air India flight from Singapore had a narrow escape on Wednesday morning after pilots were forced to abort landing at Chennai airport due to an unstable approach and crosswinds. The flight, which was scheduled to land at 10:15 am, descended to as low as 200 feet before the pilots initiated a go-around. 

It eventually landed safely on the second attempt after circling the airport, resulting in a delay of nearly 30 minutes. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials confirmed the aborted landing, citing an "unstabilised approach" at the St Thomas Mount end of the runway. “A safe landing requires a controlled descent rate, correct speed, and alignment.

 In this case, the descent was too steep, and there was a sudden shift in wind speed,” a source familiar with the matter said. The incident raised fresh concerns over recent landing-related events at Chennai airport. In October last year, an Indigo flight from Jaipur had to make a touch-and-go due to similar issues, while in March this year, a Mumbai-Chennai flight suffered tail damage during touchdown.

Candidates from any stream should be eligible for pilot training, say flying schools

Candidates from any stream should be eligible for pilot training, say flying schools

 Institutions would need to adopt varied teaching methods to help students from non-science backgrounds 

Utkarsh.Tripathi@timesofindia.com 05.05.2025 

Flying schools argue that modern pilot training does not require more than a class X level knowledge of Maths to pursue a Commercial Pilot License (CPL). The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering broadening the eligibility standards by allowing candidates from Arts and Commerce to pursue CPL, which is currently limited only to those who studied Physics and Mathematics in class XII. 

In a conversation with Education Times , Varun Mittal, head of flight training aeroplane/ helicopter, Indowings Flight Training Academy, Uttar Pradesh, says, “The pilot training includes teaching all the necessary subjects from the beginning. Arts and Commerce candidates get the theoretical and practical knowledge, making prior academic specialisation less critical if candidates demonstrate the required aptitude and commitment.” 

Aspiring pilots are required to clear theoretical and practical exams conducted by the DGCA to earn a CPL, after course completion. The theoretical test consists of six core subjects, including Air Regulations, Aviation Meteorology, Air Navigation, Technical General, Technical Specific, and Radio Telephony. “The DGCA tests have components that require numerical calculations, but it does not demand advanced mathematical skills. A scientific calculator is also allowed in the DGCA exams, and with a good conceptual understanding of topics taught in class X and polished in aviation academies, students from any stream can pass the exam,” says Priyanka Talreja, chief operating officer, Captain Aviation Academy, Mumbai. 

Many students from Arts and Commerce backgrounds already use alternate eligibility options. One common path is enrolling in the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), which allows the candidate to get a class XII certificate for Physics and Mathematics, mandated for technical fields like aviation and maritime. “Candidates are reInternational regulators such as the FAA in the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) do not restrict pilot training to Science stream students gularly opting for NIOS certification to meet the eligibility requirement of having studied Maths and Physics. Once they join flight training, they follow the same curriculum as science-background students and perform well,” says Talreja. 

Passing NIOS exams does not mean that students have a sound knowledge in Science and Math, but they know enough to be able to do well during pilot training,” says Rajesh Handa, owner, Pioneer Flying Academy, Delhi. Furthermore, the move, if rolled out by DGCA, will align with the international standards of aviation. “International regulators such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) do not restrict pilot training to Science stream students. 

Their systems are based on performances in aviation-specific exams and practical flight assessments. Candidates from any academic background are eligible to train as pilots, provided they can meet the rigorous standards set by the training institutions and regulatory exams,” adds Mittal. To cater to a classroom consisting of candidates from non-math and Science backgrounds, flying schools will have to tweak the training process. “Flight training academies may need to adjust their admission and training approaches to accommodate a more academically diverse group of students. The instructors will have to change the teaching method to cater to Arts and Commerce students,” says Mittal. 

The core curriculum for CPL training will remain the same for all students, as aviation theory and flight skills are standardised under DGCA norms. “However, training institutions would need to adopt varied teaching methods or additional academic support to help students from non-science backgrounds grasp technical concepts,” he adds. This move will also increase the talent pool and help meet the demand for trained pilots in the aviation sector. “With India’s aviation sector expanding and many experienced pilots migrating abroad for better pay and work conditions, the aviation industry is staring at talent crunch. Flexible eligibility will help address these challenges as we can train more youngsters,” adds Talreja.

Operational issues delay two Air India flights for five hours in Tamil Nadu

Operational issues delay two Air India flights for five hours in Tamil Nadu

Several passengers claimed they were asked to disembark from the flight, originally scheduled to take off at 11:20 am, after being kept on board for over 90 minutes.

Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Chennai International Airport on Tuesday after two Air India flights to Delhi and Mumbai were significantly delayed due to “operational issues”.(Photo | EPS)

Express News Service

Updated on:

16 Apr 2025, 8:37 am

CHENNAI: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Chennai International Airport on Tuesday after two Air India flights to Delhi and Mumbai were significantly delayed due to “operational issues”.

Flight AI 2836 to Delhi was delayed by more than five hours. Several passengers claimed they were asked to disembark from the flight, originally scheduled to take off at 11:20 am, after being kept on board for over 90 minutes.

One traveller, S Kothandaraman, posted on X that the flight had been grounded due to “technical difficulties” and that the crew informed the passengers that they were waiting for a spare part from Delhi. “The announcement came at 11:53 am, after we had already been seated for more than an hour,” he wrote, estimating around 180 passengers were on board.

Air India later attributed the delay to “operational reasons”. The flight eventually departed around 5.06pm, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Another Air India flight, AI0574 scheduled for 11.40 am from Chennai to Mumbai, also experienced delay of over five hours. A source said the disruption stemmed from the incoming aircraft being grounded at its origin. Passengers were provided with meals and refreshments, he added.

Responding to the incident, an Air India spokesperson said, “We have accommodated passengers on alternate Air India flights.”