Fri, Aug 14, 2026
Still Risks And Gaps In India’s Aviation Ecosystem
Aviation safety requires both accountability for crew conduct and rigorous investigation of technical and operational failures. One cannot substitute for the other
Aug 14, 2026 · 2 min read
In the Hollywood movie Flight (2012), airline pilot William "Whip" Whitaker Sr., portrayed by Denzel Washington, heroically crash-lands an aircraft that malfunctioned in cruise. But an inquiry upends his fate, as he is put on trial for substance abuse. The takeaway: the successful landing did not settle the question of whether or not he was fit to fly in the first place.
The plot bears an imperfect but striking resemblance to the recent Phuket–Delhi incident: the Air India aircraft recovered from a sudden 300-foot altitude loss, landed safely, but the subsequent investigation shifted attention to a positive test for cannabis for the captain.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has, however, cautioned against drawing conclusions before the evidence is fully examined.
It is important to note that a positive test for cannabis, by itself, does not establish that the captain was impaired at the precise time of the flight. That is precisely why the investigation matters.
Aviation safety requires both accountability for crew conduct and rigorous investigation of technical and operational failures. One cannot substitute for the other.
A formal response to a set of queries sent by The Secretariat to the authorities concerned is still awaited.
Technical Warnings
Subsequent preliminary analysis by Airbus has also pointed to a serious technical dimension: the A320 reportedly appears to have briefly lost control following a hydraulic system failure. Airbus has yet to establish the root cause.
More than a year after the fatal Ahmedabad crash, the scars left behind still linger.
It is vital to examine the norms that govern the skies.
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