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Hans India
a day ago
- General
- Hans India
Ill-fated runway 23 of Ahmedabad airport
New Delhi/Ahmedabad: The crash of Air India plane near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday was the second such major tragedy in the city since 1988, with both incidents linked to runway 23. As many as 133 people out of 139 on board were killed on October 19, 1988, when Indian Airlines Flight 113 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad crashed while approaching the airport's runway 23. Before crashing, the flight to London on Thursday had also taken off from runway 23. Findings of a probe into the 1988 incident attributed it to pilots' error linked to descending below the minimum altitude of 500 feet or 150 metre. The plane crash in 1988 resulted in the death of Professor Labdhi Bhandari from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Maharaja's mourning: A blood-stained chapter opens for leviathan Air India mid-makeover
Air India flight's horrible crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday, which claimed the lives of 265 people , comes after the flag carrier spent many years trying to turn its fortunes around. That effort followed a troubled past marked by both financial losses and safety failures under government ownership. Once a massive drain on taxpayers, Air India was placed on a multi-step transformation path after the Tata group acquired it three years back, aiming to become a 'world class global airline with an Indian heart'. Under private control, the airline expanded its fleet and network, overhauled the customer experience, and worked to improve operational reliability. In the wake of its merger with Vistara last year, the full-service carrier also began repainting and retrofitting its aircraft. Also Read: Air India disaster deals heavy blow to 'world class airline' ambition Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Yet despite these efforts, the scale of this tragedy arrives at a time when Air India's recovery remains an ongoing process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Windows Users Don't Forget To Do This Before Friday Read More Undo In 2010, an Air India flight arriving from Dubai veered off the runway at Mangalore and plunged over a cliff, killing 158 of the 166 people on board. A decade later, in 2020, an Air India Express flight skidded off a runway in southern India in heavy rain, broke into two and left 18 dead and more than 120 injured. Both disasters involved older Boeing 737‑800 jets and occurred while Air India was still state-run. That changed in 2022, when Tata Sons acquired the carrier, ending decades of government control. Live Events You Might Also Like: Ahmedabad airport crash flashback: 37 years ago, Indian Airlines Flight 113 accident killed over 100 people The ₹180 billion deal (then about $2.4 billion) was in some respects a return home, as Air India had its roots in the Tata family's founding of Tata Airlines in 1932. It also formed part of a broader rescue attempt for a carrier crippled by debts and losses. By the time the take-over took place, Air India was, in the words of CEO Campbell Wilson to Reuters in 2024, 'just in absolute shambles'. Many aircraft had not received a product refresh since their delivery in 2010–11. Tata's overhaul of Air India After gaining control, the Tata group set about revitalising the ailing airline. This included placing an order for 470 new aircraft, the carrier's largest ever, and extending its international reach. You Might Also Like: Air India's long history as it faces crisis of Ahmedabad crash People had high hopes when Tata took over Air India. Back when Tata owned the airline before it was taken over by the government, it had a great reputation. But now, problems with quality and service have let people down. Three years on from privatisation, Air India has managed to significantly reduce its losses and shrink its reliance on fresh investment from Tata Sons, CEO Campbell Wilson told the Economic Times recently. He declined to say when the airline might become profitable. He said that losses had fallen sharply—from ₹11,387 crore in FY23, the first full year after privatisation, to ₹4,444 crore in FY24. FY25 figures are yet to be released. An internal presentation reviewed by ET showed the airline aimed for profitability by FY27, although experts have warned that the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers may delay that goal. Air India's struggle with ageing fleet Once on the world stage, Air India's maharajah mascot, lavishly decorated planes and high service standards under the stewardship of JRD Tata—India's first commercial pilot—had inspired pride. That changed in the mid‑2000s as financial woes deepened. Widebody aircraft were left with sagging business class seats and some new Boeing 787 Dreamliners were grounded due to spare parts unavailability. You Might Also Like: Disturbing full CCTV video shows Air India plane struggling to take off less than a minute before deadly Ahmedabad crash Jitendra Bhargava, former executive director of Air India and author of The Descent of Air India, attributed the decline to a culture shaped by government ownership, which fostered outdated procedures and bureaucratic leadership. 'You are getting a recipe for disaster. And we went through it,' he told The Associated Press. He added that continuous money losses had a 'cascading effect' on the airline's ability to invest in equipment and upgrades. At the time of the takeover, Air India had around a 12 per cent share of India's domestic market and faced intense competition from private rivals. Bhargava and other experts agreed that only by shedding government control could Air India hope to modernise its operations and fleet. In recent years, the airline has revamped its branding and placed substantial orders for new aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. Although the 12‑year‑old Boeing 787 that crashed on Thursday marked the first fatal crash of that model, analysts say the disaster is unlikely to halt Air India's Boeing commitments. 'Admittedly, Air India and the Tata organization have been very proud about the fact that they've made a major commitment to Boeing,' said Anita Mendiratta, an aviation and leadership consultant. She observed that despite recent issues with Boeing's 737 Max, airlines worldwide remain keen to source its newer aircraft, including the 787 Dreamliner, which remains vital for reducing emissions and cutting costs. Air India holds around 30 per cent of India's domestic market and owns 198 aircraft—of which 27 are aged 10–15 years, and 43 are over 15 years old, according to the civil aviation ministry's March statement to parliament. Air India Express operates 101 planes, of which 37 per cent are over 15 years old. The Boeing 787 that crashed this week was 11 years old, Flightradar24 reported. The airline, part‑owned by Singapore Airlines, has since ordered 570 more planes and is negotiating for additional jets. By comparison, airlines like IndiGo operate newer fleets. Air India has also aggressively increased its international flight network, even as passengers regularly air grievances on social media about dirty seats, broken armrests, non‑functional entertainment systems and unclean cabins. In May, Reuters cited UK Civil Aviation Authority data, via the PA news agency, saying Air India was the worst airline in Britain for flight delays, with departures averaging nearly 46 minutes late in 2024. In the past two to three years, Air India has faced a string of operational challenges—from pilot protests and persistent delays to complaints about customer discomfort and safety. Investigation and aftermath of the Boeing 787 crash Boeing itself has endured a rocky period, with past fatal crashes. However, Thursday's crash was the first involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The cause of the crash remains uncertain. An international inquiry has been launched. Boeing said it was 'working to gather more information.' Air India also stated it would seek answers and pledged support for those affected. Also Read: A look at Boeing's recent troubles after Air India crash 'This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India,' CEO Campbell Wilson said in recorded remarks. 'Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones.' Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, conveyed deep sorrow. 'No words can adequately express the grief we feel at this moment,' he said, adding that victims' families would receive ₹10 million (almost $117,000) each and that medical bills for the injured would be covered. The Boeing 787 crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. According to a senior Indian official and Air India, only a single passenger survived; the airline confirmed that there were no other survivors, bringing the death toll to 241. This tragedy echoes earlier disasters: in 1978, an Air India Boeing 747 plunged into the Arabian Sea with 213 lives lost. Until 2022, the airline was under government control, a period that also saw state‑owned carriers involved in fatal crashes—from over 50 deaths in Patna in 2000, to 55 in Aurangabad in 1993, more than 130 in Ahmedabad in 1988, and 69 near Imphal in 1991.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
City relives horror of 1988 IA crash
Ahmedabad: Memories from the past on Thursday returned to haunt Amdavadis. Thirty-seven years ago, on Oct 19, 1988, Ahmedabad had witnessed a similar air tragedy when Indian Airlines Flight 113 crashed near the airport, killing 133 out of the 135 people on board, including six crew members and pilots. The flight to Ahmedabad had taken off from Mumbai airport early that morning. The crash's two survivors were a young businessman, Ashok Agrawal, and then Gujarat Vidyapith vice-chancellor, Vinod Tripathi. The flight crashed in the Kotarpur area, 2.5km from the approach end of the airstrip. This spot is on the other end of the strip where the London-bound Air India flight crashed in a high-nose angle on Thursday, moments after take-off. Investigations into the 1988 crash later revealed that the pilots did not adhere to procedure under poor visibility conditions. Airport authorities were also held liable for not informing the aircraft about the prevailing poor visibility conditions. The Indian Airlines aircraft was a Boeing 737-2A8, registered VT-EAH, delivered to the airline in Dec 1970 and had accumulated 42,831 hours and 47,647 landings till the day of the tragedy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo A year after the crash, Indian Airlines offered to pay Rs 2 lakh as full and final settlement to relatives of each of the victims, the maximum amount allowed under Rules 17 and 22 of the Second Schedule to the Carriage by Air Act 1972. However, the victims' kin sued the airlines and airport authorities. A city civil court enhanced the compensation amount to a total of Rs 6 crore, with the liability divided between the airlines and airport authorities in the ratio of 70:30. Survivor Ashok Agrawal was ordered to be paid Rs 60 lakh compensation with 6% interest. Airport authorities appealed in the Gujarat high court, which reduced the compensation amount to Rs 45 lakh in 2009. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Ahmedabad plane crash: when an Indian Airlines flight erupted into a fireball in 1988
The deadly crash of the Air India flight in Ahmedabad on Thursday has revived memories of a major air disaster that took place in the Gujarat city in 1988. On a foggy morning in October that year, Indian Airlines Flight 113, a Boeing 737, met with catastrophe as it attempted to land at Ahmedabad airport. The plane, which had been in service since its delivery to Indian Airlines (now defunct) in December 1970, crashed just 2.5 km from the runway, claiming the lives of 133 of the 135 people on board. The flight had taken off from Mumbai, bound for Ahmedabad, when it encountered treacherous weather. Haze had reduced visibility to a mere 1.2 miles, a condition challenging even for seasoned pilots. To navigate this, the crew chose a localiser-DME approach—a technique that uses radio signals to guide the aircraft to the runway when the pilots can't rely on their eyes alone. At 6.41 am, they radioed their position over the Ahmedabad VOR (very-high frequency omni-directional range) a navigation beacon, confirming they were following descent instructions. That call was their last. Moments later, disaster unfolded. The aircraft grazed trees and smashed into an electricity pylon near Chiloda Kotarpur, a village close to the airport. It then plunged into a paddy field, erupting into a fireball that consumed the plane. Amid the wreckage, only two survivors emerged: Ashok Agarwal, a textile businessman, and Vinod Tripathi, a former vice-chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith. Both suffered severe injuries. For Agarwal, the loss was even deeper, his wife and infant daughter died in the crash. He spent years grappling with trauma and memory loss, retreating from the world until his death in 2020, which police attributed to a likely cardiac arrest. The investigation Investigators quickly turned to the cockpit voice recorder for answers. The recordings painted a troubling picture: the pilots were straining to spot the runway through the haze, distracted from monitoring the plane's altitude. They skipped critical steps including failing to request landing clearance from the tower or announce their altitude as required during the descent. These oversights pointed to a loss of situational awareness in the flight's final moments. The official inquiry pinned the crash on pilot error. Both the captain and co-pilot had strayed from standard procedures for landing in such poor visibility. But the blame didn't stop there. The report also criticised air traffic control for not clearly communicating how bad the visibility had become and for failing to update the pilots on the runway visual range (RVR)—a key measure of how far a pilot can see down the runway, vital for safe landings in murky conditions. A deeper probe by the Justice Mathur Commission uncovered broader failures. It concluded that both Indian Airlines and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) bore responsibility—a case of 'composite negligence'. This finding fuelled legal action from survivors and victims' families, who sought accountability and compensation. In 2003, a civil court awarded payments with interest to those affected. Years later, the Gujarat High Court stepped in, boosting the interest rate and assigning 90 per cent of the financial liability to Indian Airlines, with the AAI covering the remaining 10 per cent.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ahmedabad airport crash flashback: 37 years ago, Indian Airlines Flight 113 accident killed over 100 people
As India reels from the tragic crash of an Air India flight in Ahmedabad, memories of one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the city's history — the 1988 Indian Airlines crash — have resurfaced. The October 19 tragedy, which killed 133 of the 135 people on board, remains a haunting chapter in the nation's civil aviation timeline. Indian Airlines Flight 113 , a Boeing 737-200, was operating a scheduled service from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Ahmedabad. The aircraft, registered VT-EAH, took off from Bombay-Sahar International Airport at 6:05 a.m., around 20 minutes behind schedule. Captain O.M. Dallaya and First Officer Deepak Nagpal were at the controls. As the aircraft neared Ahmedabad, poor visibility — which had dropped to as low as 1.2 miles due to haze — prompted the crew to opt for a localiser-DME approach to runway 23. At 6:41 a.m., they reported overhead Ahmedabad VOR, confirming descent instructions received earlier. That would be their last radio communication. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Moments Before Impact By 6:53 a.m., the flight had tragically ended in disaster. The aircraft struck trees and an electricity pylon near Chiloda Kotarpur, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the runway. It crashed into a paddy field and burst into flames, destroying the plane and killing 133 passengers and crew members. Only two individuals — Ashok Agarwal, a textile businessman, and Gujarat Vidyapith Vice-Chancellor Vinod Tripathi — survived with severe injuries. The cockpit voice recorder revealed that the pilots were attempting to visually locate the runway despite the poor weather and failed to monitor the aircraft's altitude. They did not request landing clearance or make required altitude callouts, suggesting they had lost situational awareness in the critical final moments. The Investigation and Accountability The official inquiry concluded that the crash resulted from pilot error under poor visibility. Both the captain and co-pilot were found to have deviated from standard approach procedures. The report also pointed to contributing factors, such as inadequate communication from air traffic control regarding the deteriorating visibility and failure to provide updated Runway Visual Range (RVR) measurements. Further scrutiny by the Justice Mathur Commission found composite negligence between Indian Airlines and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Survivors and families of victims pursued legal action, leading to a civil court ruling in 2003 that awarded compensation with interest. The Gujarat High Court later increased the interest rate and held Indian Airlines responsible for 90% of the compensation, leaving 10% to the AAI. Ashok Agarwal, one of the only two survivors, lost his wife and infant daughter in the crash. After years of battling trauma and memory loss, he led a reclusive life. In 2020, he was found dead in his Ahmedabad apartment. Police ruled his death as accidental, most likely due to cardiac arrest. Echoes of a Past Tragedy Amid a New Crisis The 1988 crash cast a long shadow over Indian aviation, prompting calls for stricter adherence to safety protocols and procedural reforms. With the recent Air India Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025 — which bears eerie similarities in its fatal turn moments after takeoff — the legacy of Flight 113 is again in sharp focus. As investigations begin into the new disaster, the haunting lessons from 1988 serve as a grim reminder of the high cost of lapses in aviation safety.
