112 Pilots Went On Leaves After Air India Ahmedabad Plane Crash

Following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12, which resulted in 260 fatalities, there has been a significant increase in sick leave reported by Air India's pilots. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, disclosed that on June 16, just days after the incident, 112 pilots called in sick. This group included 51 commanders and 61 first officers.

In response to inquiries in the Lok Sabha regarding potential mass sick leave among Air India's flight crew post-crash, Mohol stated that there was a slight rise in sick leaves across all fleets. He confirmed that the total number of pilots reporting sick on June 16 was indeed 112.

Impact on Mental Health

The accident has brought attention to the mental health of pilots. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously issued a circular in February 2023 urging airlines to provide specialised training. This training aims to help flight crews and air traffic controllers identify and manage mental health issues effectively.

Mohol elaborated on this by mentioning that organisations are advised to implement a Peer Support Programme (PSP). This programme is designed to be proactive and non-punitive, assisting flight crew and air traffic control officers (ATCOs) in recognising and overcoming mental health challenges.

Details of the Crash

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 was en route to London when it crashed into a building shortly after departing from Ahmedabad. Among the deceased were 241 passengers onboard and 19 individuals on the ground. Remarkably, one passenger seated in seat 11A survived the crash.

Despite the severity of the incident, Mohol confirmed that there is currently no specific policy within the civil aviation ministry for compensating civilians who suffer damages due to plane crashes.