An Air India Airbus A320 experienced a near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems mid-flight, causing an altitude upset and injuring 24 people. A preliminary investigation revealed the pilot-in-command tested positive for a psychoactive substance post-flight, leading to their termination, while the technical aspects of the incident are still under scrutiny.
Tata Elxsi has partnered with Sarla Aviation to develop the Shunya air taxi platform. Tata Elxsi will provide engineering support for avionics, software integration, and certification, while Sarla Aviation will lead the design and type certification of the electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first woman officer (non-medical) in the Indian Defence Forces to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal. She has been appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters, bringing over three decades of diverse experience, including establishing IAF Chairs of Excellence and commanding a Sainik School.
Jeetu, as he is known in the IAF, is known for his high intellect, ability to quickly grasp the essentials of complex situations and the readiness to articulate his views clearly and unambiguously. An excellent professional in every sense of the word, he has a well-trained military mind, honed by extensive operational flying and flight testing experience, avers Air Marshal B Manikantan (retd).
An Air India Airbus A320 experienced a near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems at 36,000 feet on a Phuket-Delhi flight, injuring 24 people. The pilot-in-command was subsequently terminated after testing positive for banned psychoactive substances, though the AAIB has not linked this to the technical failure.
An IndiGo flight carrying 229 passengers from Goa to Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing back at Manohar International Airport after one of its engines failed mid-air. The aircraft landed safely, and alternative arrangements were made for the passengers.
Domestic air passenger traffic in India decreased by 4.80 per cent in July 2026 compared to the previous year, reaching 1.20 crore, with major airlines experiencing a drop in load factor, according to DGCA data. Despite the overall dip, IndiGo and Air India Group increased their market share.
An Alliance Air flight from Delhi to Bilaspur experienced a tyre burst upon landing in Chhattisgarh, but all 41 individuals, including 37 passengers and 4 crew members, were safely evacuated. The airline cancelled the onward flight.
Air India Group has accumulated losses of about Rs 47,821 crore since its takeover, leaving its prolonged transformation among the biggest unfinished projects of N Chandrasekaran's tenure.
The pilots testing positive have been removed from duty, with their samples sent for confirmatory testing.
The Bareilly administration has initiated comprehensive measures to enhance flight safety around its Air Force station. These steps include stricter monitoring of drones, addressing bird activity, regulating unauthorised construction, improving waste management, and controlling stray animal populations, all identified as potential threats to aircraft operations.
Two Air India Group pilots have failed initial drug tests, with their samples sent for confirmatory analysis. This comes after mandatory psychoactive substance testing was implemented following an incident where a pilot tested positive for marijuana after a flight lost altitude.
=The investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's sudden altitude variation and the actions of the flight crew.
Air India has confirmed that all 13 passengers injured during severe mid-air turbulence on a Phuket-Delhi flight have been discharged from hospital. However, four crew members involved in the incident continue to receive medical treatment. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the matter.
Tewolde Gebremariam, a seasoned aviation professional with extensive experience at Ethiopian Airlines, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. He is tasked with leading the airline's ambitious five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, aimed at achieving significant growth and profitability, marking him as the second foreign national to helm Air India under Tata Group ownership.
Air India and Air India Express are implementing mandatory psychoactive substance testing for all their 5,000+ pilots. This decision follows an incident where the pilot of a Phuket-Delhi flight, which experienced a sudden altitude drop injuring 24 people, tested positive for marijuana. The testing aims to enhance safety standards and reassure passengers.
An initial analysis reveals that an Air India Airbus A320 flying from Phuket to Delhi experienced multiple hydraulic system failures, leading to a four-second loss of flight controls and a sudden 300-foot altitude drop, injuring 24 people. The incident is under investigation by the AAIB, and the pilot-in-command subsequently tested positive for a psychoactive substance, prompting Air India to implement mandatory testing for all its pilots.
The pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop last week has tested positive for a psychoactive substance, identified by sources as marijuana, in a confirmatory test. This development comes as Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu met with Air India executives to discuss the serious incident, which left 24 people injured.
An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden loss of altitude, leading to injuries and prompting a psychoactive substance screening for the pilot-in-command, with confirmatory test results now awaited.
A passenger on a Kuala Lumpur-Kochi Batik Air flight was arrested for allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit, damaging a window panel, and threatening fellow passengers and cabin crew. The incident occurred mid-flight, and the accused, Jamsheer Athanikkal, faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Aircraft Act, and Kerala Police Act.
SkyHop Aviation has partnered with Norwegian firm NOEMI Aerospace to explore deploying electric seaplanes in India and South Asia, aiming to enhance regional air connectivity. The collaboration includes evaluating NOEMI's aircraft for SkyHop's fleet, with plans to induct up to 10 by FY2030, and exploring manufacturing opportunities in India.
An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi encountered severe mid-air turbulence, causing the aircraft to lose 300 feet in altitude. The incident resulted in injuries to 15 people, including 11 passengers and 4 cabin crew members, with one crew member sustaining severe injuries. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is investigating the event.
Air India has announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson. This strategic appointment comes as the airline navigates expansion amidst significant challenges.
Bengaluru-based electric air taxi startup Sarla Aviation has received Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a crucial step towards commercial production of its indigenous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company also inaugurated its new headquarters and announced partnerships, highlighting India's growing capabilities in advanced aerospace technology.
A joint study by IIT Roorkee and IIT Kanpur has found that a black crust formed by air pollution is accelerating the deterioration of Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi. The crust, primarily gypsum, traps pollutants, weakening the sandstone and making the monument vulnerable to long-term damage. The study recommends conservation measures, pollution monitoring, and source reduction to protect the historical site.
A fresh clash erupted between protesters from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district, leading to police firing in the air, as an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day over land encroachment issues and an earlier firing incident.
The Indian Air Force Football Team defeated Sri Lanka's Defenders FC 2-1 in a Durand Cup Group C fixture. Naorem Somananda Singh scored in the first half, followed by an own goal, before Defenders FC managed a late consolation goal.
Rudrankksh Patil embraces pressure ahead of Asian Games 2026, saying it helps him stay focused as he targets strong performances in two events.
Domestic air traffic in India experienced a nearly 12 per cent decline in June, falling to 1.35 crore passengers from 1.53 crore in May, with IndiGo increasing its market share to 66.3 per cent.
The Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved the procurement of military hardware worth an estimated Rs 1.10 lakh crore for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. This significant move aims to enhance India's combat prowess and reduce dependency on foreign vendors, with approximately 98 per cent of procurements sourced from Indian industry.
The Supreme Court has been informed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's final draft report on the June 2025 Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad will be submitted in October. The court is hearing petitions seeking an independent probe into the accident, which claimed 260 lives.
The government has confirmed that Boeing's detailed examination of the Dreamliner aircraft's fuel control switch locking mechanism found no abnormality, following an Air India pilot's report of a possible issue. This investigation was prompted after an Air India flight from London to Bengaluru in February, and comes amidst an ongoing probe into a fatal Dreamliner crash last year where fuel supply to engines was cut off.
Multiple suspected drones were detected near the operational area of Amritsar's international airport, leading to the diversion of seven flights, including two international ones. The incident prompted a security alert and suspended flight operations for 90 minutes.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed a new leadership team, including retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as CEO, Ayodhya lawyer Madan Mohan Pandey as trustee, Delhi businessman Mahesh Bhagchandka as treasurer, and Dr Nirmala Yadav as the first woman trustee, to address allegations of theft and improve administration and devotee facilities.
Indian shooters bound for the Asian Games will participate in preparatory camps in Delhi and Bhopal this month. These camps, focusing on mental conditioning and technical refinement, are crucial for the athletes to achieve peak performance at the quadrennial event in Japan, which begins on September 19. The article also lists the full shooting squad.
In a significant development, the Russian side has submitted a detailed proposal to the Defence Ministry in response to the Indian tender for acquiring five more squadrons of the S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defence systems for the Indian Air Force.
Varthaman, who downed an enemy jet during an aerial combat with Pakistan in 2019 and was held captive for three days in that country, was honoured with the Vir Chakra award in 2021.
Air Marshal (retd) Jeetendra Mishra has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. His selection follows a rigorous process and comes amidst a recent controversy regarding alleged embezzlement of temple donations.
Air India Group anticipates the delivery of 50-60 new aircraft within the next 18 months, with its ambitious transformation programme progressing despite global challenges like supply chain issues and geopolitical tensions, according to Chief Commercial Officer Nipun Aggarwal.
The math is mostly simple: The cheaper the MBBS seat, the easier it is to get into. The affordable seats are taken up by those well under AIR 100,000. But not in all states, says Ashok Hegde, founder, neet2seat.
