Air India Vienna Flight Faces Mid-Air Scare Days After Ahmedabad Crash; DGCA Orders Probe

 In a concerning development just 40 hours after the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, another Air India flight—this time operating on the Delhi-Vienna route—experienced a significant mid-air incident, prompting aviation authorities to initiate an investigation.

According to reliable sources, Air India Flight AI 187, en route from Delhi to Vienna on June 14, encountered a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. Amid challenging weather conditions in the national capital, the aircraft reportedly descended by nearly 900 feet within minutes of departure, raising serious safety concerns.

Flight tracking data confirms that the aircraft departed Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2:56 a.m. during severe storm activity. The sudden loss of altitude triggered alarm among aviation observers, though the prompt and skilled response from the flight crew ensured the aircraft continued its journey and landed safely in Vienna.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has since launched a formal investigation into the incident. The aircraft’s black box has been recovered, and preliminary data has been handed over to the regulator for analysis. As a precautionary measure, the pilots involved have been temporarily off-rostered pending the completion of the inquiry.

In an official statement, Air India confirmed:
"Upon receipt of the pilot’s report, the matter was immediately disclosed to the DGCA, in line with regulatory requirements. Following the submission of data from the flight recorders, a deeper investigation has been initiated. The pilots have been removed from active duty until the investigation concludes."

This near-miss incident follows closely on the heels of the devastating June 12 crash of Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed the lives of over 260 passengers. The back-to-back occurrences have heightened scrutiny of Air India’s operational protocols and aircraft maintenance standards.

The aviation community awaits the outcome of the DGCA's probe, as questions loom over safety practices and emergency response readiness in India's flagship carrier.