
Crash. Silence. Confusion. How India's air accident watchdog is failing its biggest test yet
Aviation
Exclusives Crash. Silence. Confusion. How India's air accident watchdog is failing its biggest test yet
Getty Images
The findings of the Air India crash are critical not just for the airline but also to the nearly 1,100 such planes flying globally and around 130 of them on Boeing's orderbook.
Synopsis
Nearly two weeks after the devastating Air India flight AI171 crash, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has remained quiet. There have been no preliminary findings and no interim reports. In this silence, theories and speculation grow.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Spice of Life: Mayday in everyday life, learn to hear the unheard
We often picture a Mayday as a desperate cry from a plane in trouble — a pilot's voice strained with fear, broadcasting an urgent distress signal. It's a dramatic, life-or-death scenario. But the truth is, we're surrounded by Mayday calls every single day. They don't come from aircraft in crisis, but from the people right beside us: Our family, friends, and neighbours. If we treated human emotional distress with even half that urgency, imagine how many lives we could save — not just from death, but from the crushing weight of despair, loneliness, and the slow erosion of spirit. ((Photo by Dima Berlin on Getty Images)) These modern Mayday calls aren't crackling over radios; they're whispered in silence, hidden behind forced smiles, and buried under casual I'm fine responses. Take a moment to look around. Think of the friend who's suddenly absent from group chats, always cancelling plans, and claiming he's just tired. Consider the parents who navigate their day with a mechanical smile, shouldering unseen burdens, desperately hoping no one notices they're barely holding on. Or the neighbour who once waved and chatted over the fence, now rushing inside without a glance. These are the subtle, silent distress signals of our time, and they're tragically easy to miss. Unlike a plane in trouble, these cries often go unanswered. Not because we don't care, but because we've forgotten how to truly see. We've become accustomed to looking past discomfort, keeping conversations superficial, and respecting space that might actually be a desperate plea for connection. But here's a crucial truth: Life, much like that afternoon flight, is incredibly fragile. In a world that's louder and more distracting than ever, one of the most profound acts of love we can offer is simply to notice. In aviation, a Mayday call triggers an immediate, all-hands-on-deck response. Air traffic clears, help is despatched, and everything else becomes secondary. That's how much one life matters. Why should it be any different for us, down here? If we treated human emotional distress with even half that urgency, imagine how many lives we could save — not just from death, but from the crushing weight of despair, loneliness, and the slow erosion of spirit. Being there for someone doesn't always mean having all the answers. Sometimes, it means simply sitting with them in silence, reminding them they're not alone. It means reaching out even when it feels awkward. It means refusing to assume someone else will step in. Because, all too often, no one does. We tend to wait for people to ask for help, forgetting that the very pain they're experiencing might be robbing them of the ability to reach out. We miss the faint signals because they don't come with flashing lights or blaring sirens. But they are there — in missed calls, uncharacteristic quietness, sudden shifts in behaviour, or even an overly cheerful demeanour that feels unnatural. So, what can we do? We can be the one who truly sees. The one who doesn't just scroll past a cryptic social media post. The one who sends that text, even if there's no immediate reply. The one who genuinely asks, 'Hey, you've been on my mind lately. How are you really?' The one who shows up with a coffee or a kind word. The one who creates a safe space when someone finally breaks down. Listen with an open heart. The world often tells us to mind our own business, to stay in our own lane. But our hearts know better. They understand that behind every brave face, there might be a raging storm; behind every quiet soul, a silent cry. And perhaps, you're meant to be the one who hears it. Let's not wait for a tragedy to remind us of what truly matters. Let's choose genuine presence over superficial performance, heartfelt care over mere convenience, and deep compassion over rigid correctness. Saving a life doesn't require a dramatic rescue, a runway, or a team of specialists. Sometimes, it just takes a simple message, a knowing look or a comforting hand on the shoulder. praveen46535@ The writer is a Patiala-based freelance contributor


Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
Indian Air-Safety Audit Finds Multiple Lapses at Airlines, Hubs
(Bloomberg) -- India's aviation safety regulator found multiple aircraft-maintenance lapses in an audit of airlines and airports ordered after the crash of Air India flight AI171, including recurring defects that indicate inadequate monitoring and correction. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also found unserviceable ground-handling equipment such as baggage trolleys in its surveillance of airports in New Delhi and Mumbai, as well as maintenance procedures such as tool controls and work-order instructions that weren't being followed. 'All the findings observed during the surveillance have been communicated to the concerned operators for taking necessary corrective actions within seven days,' the regulator said in a statement. The findings point to an aviation safety culture that hasn't kept up with the industry's rapid growth in India. Among the failings: Aircraft maintenance engineers ignored safety precautions and reported snags to be rectified, and defect reports generated by the aircraft system weren't being recorded in technical logbooks. One domestic flight had to be held due to worn tires observed by the inspectors, while a flight simulator at one facility wasn't set up to match with the aircraft's configuration, and its software hadn't been updated to the current version. The surveillance — part of the special audit announced after the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad — covered flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control, communication, navigation and surveillance systems, and pre-flight medical evaluations, the DGCA said. All but one of the 242 people onboard the Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner died, as well as several dozen on the ground after it crashed into the student hostel of a medical college. The DGCA said that at one of the two airports — it didn't say which — obstruction-limitation data hadn't been updated for three years, and no survey has been performed despite significant new construction near the airport. Since the Ahmedabad crash, India has proposed a law to demolish buildings that exceed height regulations. More stories like this are available on


Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Crash. Silence. Confusion. How India's air accident watchdog is failing its biggest test yet
Aviation Exclusives Crash. Silence. Confusion. How India's air accident watchdog is failing its biggest test yet Getty Images The findings of the Air India crash are critical not just for the airline but also to the nearly 1,100 such planes flying globally and around 130 of them on Boeing's orderbook. Synopsis Nearly two weeks after the devastating Air India flight AI171 crash, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has remained quiet. There have been no preliminary findings and no interim reports. In this silence, theories and speculation grow.