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In the aftermath of the catastrophic Air India Flight AI‑171 crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, the Indian government reported a minor increase in pilot sick leave—a surge that officials attributed to stress and trauma, rather than any coordinated protest by crew members.
Key Developments
- On June 16, 2025, just four days after the crash, 112 Air India pilots—including 51 commanders and 61 first officers—called in sick across the airline’s fleet, according to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a written Lok Sabha reply .
- Officials emphasized this rise was a “minor increase” and not indicative of mass sick reporting or industrial action by flight crew .
Mental Health Measures By DGCA
- The DGCA had issued a medical circular in February 2023, which mandated airlines and Air Traffic Control Organisations to implement:
- Customized mental health training modules for pilots and ATCOs,
- Rapid mental health assessments during DGCA-approved medical exams,
- A Peer Support Programme (PSP)—non-punitive and proactive—to support crew in recognizing and managing psychological stress
- After the AI‑171 crash, the regulator reiterated these guidelines and called for robust implementation across airlines to support affected crew .
Crash Context and Beyond
- The AI‑171 Boeing 787‑8 crashed shortly after departure from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, resulting in 241 passenger fatalities, 19 ground victims, and only one survivor
- In the following weeks, the DGCA issued four show-cause notices to Air India pertaining to safety violations involving fatigue management, crew rest norms, and training irregularities across fleets, highlighting 29 violations during 2023–2025 .
- Authorities clarified that the sick leave uptick did not correspond to any broader regulatory findings—it appeared isolated to the day in question and tied to psychological fallout rather than labor unrest.
