This article is contributed by Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain Santosh Kumar Tripathi<\/strong> is a veteran military aviator of the Indian Air Force and currently serves as a Senior Captain with a commercial airline. He has amassed over 6,500+ hours of flying experience on a diverse fleet of fixed-wing aircraft across both military and civil aviation domains. A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI), he has been actively involved in flight training, operational deployments, and instructional duties during his service tenure. Capt. Tripathi holds a postgraduate degree in Defence and Strategic Studies and continues to contribute to the field as an aviation analyst and subject matter expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just 38 hours after the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, another critical in-flight event occurred\u2014but with a markedly different outcome. On June 14, 2025<\/strong>, Air India Flight AI187<\/strong>, a Boeing 777-300ER<\/strong> (VT-ALJ<\/strong>) operating from New Delhi to Vienna<\/strong>, encountered multiple in-flight warnings shortly after take-off from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport<\/strong> at 2:56 AM IST<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike the earlier tragedy, this incident showcased the professional competence and composure of the flight crew<\/strong>, who successfully recovered the aircraft from a highly precarious situation\u2014likely exacerbated by severe weather conditions<\/strong> and limitations in the aviation meteorological infrastructure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Incident: Critical Warnings After Take-off<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to data from FlightRadar24<\/strong>, ADS-B Exchange<\/strong>, and aviation sources, the aircraft ascended into a pre-dawn thunderstorm<\/strong>, resulting in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The aircraft reportedly lost approximately 900 feet of altitude<\/strong>, a significant deviation during the most vulnerable phase of flight. However, the flight crew responded promptly and decisively<\/strong>, regained stable climb, and continued the flight to Vienna without further complications. The aircraft was later dispatched to Toronto with a new crew, confirming it had sustained no structural or technical damage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More Than Just Turbulence: A Systemic Weather Blind Spot<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While much of the public discourse has focused on procedural reporting or pilot action, a more urgent concern lies elsewhere: India\u2019s aviation weather infrastructure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thunderstorms; especially with embedded cumulonimbus (CB) clouds<\/strong>, microbursts, or windshear; pose severe risks during take-off and landing<\/strong>. However, India\u2019s weather radar coverage<\/strong>, real-time movement tracking of storm cells<\/strong>, and Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS)<\/strong> updates have long suffered from currency issues<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key Gaps That Deserve Attention<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Such gaps strip the flight crew of timely situational awareness<\/strong> and can render them vulnerable during critical phases of flight. It is a testament to the AI187 crew\u2019s skill and training<\/strong> that they were able to recover the aircraft under such dynamically adverse conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting the Record Straight: No Blame on the Crew or Carrier<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While some reports have suggested underreporting of the incident by the pilots, it is important to emphasize that the pilots’ first duty is aircraft safety<\/strong>. In the aftermath of a complex and weather-influenced event, data correlation from the DFDR<\/strong> (Digital Flight Data Recorder) often supplements human recollection\u2014not contradicts it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, there is no evidence of negligence<\/strong> by Air India, DGCA, or the flight crew. On the contrary, all stakeholders acted in accordance with protocol<\/strong> once the severity of the event became clear. The DGCA, in particular, has responded with appropriate post-incident measures including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Airmanship Deserves Recognition, Not Scrutiny<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What needs to be acknowledged\u2014loudly and publicly\u2014is that the pilots of AI187 averted a potentially serious situation with professionalism and poise<\/strong>. Modern aircraft may be equipped with advanced avionics, but human judgment remains irreplaceable<\/strong> in responding to real-world weather anomalies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than criticism, the cockpit crew of AI187 deserves commendation for demonstrating superior airmanship<\/strong>, especially in the absence of real-time ground support on weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Structural Fixes, Not Scapegoats<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The AI187 incident should serve as a catalyst for urgent reforms<\/strong> in how India\u2019s civil aviation system manages and disseminates weather information\u2014especially during the monsoon and convective weather seasons, when atmospheric volatility is at its peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflecting on my days in the Indian Air Force<\/strong>, I recall that during any deterioration in weather conditions, the entire operational ecosystem would immediately shift into a heightened state of vigilance. The Senior Meteorological Officer<\/strong> would be present in the control tower, the Senior Flying Supervisor (SFS)<\/strong>would be actively monitoring the situation, and the Chief Operations Officer (COO)<\/strong> would remain fully alert until all airborne assets were accounted for. The risks posed by adverse weather are fundamentally the same in both military and civil aviation, yet the institutional responses are strikingly different<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the civil domain, too much responsibility is placed on the flight crew<\/strong>, often with too little real-time support<\/strong>. Pilots are expected to make high-stakes decisions with limited and sometimes outdated weather inputs. Moreover, the intangible psychological pressures<\/strong>\u2014fear of operational delays, pressure from passengers, media scrutiny, and potential commercial repercussions\u2014can subtly but significantly influence a pilot\u2019s decision-making under stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To address this gap, the focus must urgently shift toward system-level enhancements, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Nation\u2019s Carrier in Transition<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Air India, now under Tata Group ownership, is undergoing a massive overhaul; modernizing fleets, consolidating operations, and raising service benchmarks. While some suggest safety was stronger during the PSU era, history tells a mixed story. Incidents like the 2010 Mangalore crash<\/strong> occurred under government control. What\u2019s different now is the transparency, scrutiny, and accountability<\/strong> that come with privatization and digital traceability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for the Ecosystem<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The AI187 incident is not a story of failure\u2014it is a story of recovery<\/strong>. But it exposes cracks in the broader ecosystem that supports flight safety: weather reporting, ATC coordination, and data dissemination<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until these foundational systems are modernized and fully integrated with cockpit decision-making, pilots will remain the last and only line of defence<\/strong> against unseen atmospheric threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As Air India seeks to redefine itself on the global stage, it must not only focus on expanding its footprint\u2014but also on fortifying the invisible systems<\/strong> that make every take-off and landing safe. The sky will always be unpredictable\u2014but our preparedness need not be<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editor’s Note: Thanks Trips. Simple word of encouragement can be catalyst for life time growth and positive change. It builds a more resilient and compassionate community. Celebrating big and small success leads to positive feeling, supportive atmosphere and greater sense of purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Be safe. Fly safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n Pic Courtesy: https:\/\/www.easa.europa.eu\/community\/topics\/windshear<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n