Air India Crash: The One Detail Everyone’s Talking About
Wait, Who Was Actually Flying That Plane?
Okay, so here’s the thing—when that Air India flight went down last month, it shook up the whole aviation community. You know how these investigations go, right? They start with the usual stuff—checking the black box, looking at maintenance records. But this time? The preliminary report dropped a bombshell. Turns out, it wasn’t the captain flying during takeoff. Nope. It was the co-pilot. And that’s got everyone scratching their heads because, let’s be real, that’s not how things normally work.
1. Breaking Down What Went Wrong
The flight—a Boeing 737 heading from Mumbai to Delhi—crashed right after takeoff. No mayday call, no last-minute warnings. Just… gone. Early theories pointed to engine trouble, but eyewitnesses said the plane looked like it was struggling to climb. And now? This whole pilot situation changes everything.
2. The Big Reveal: Co-Pilot in Charge
2.1 Not Standard Procedure, That’s for Sure
Here’s what’s wild—in commercial flights, the captain always handles takeoff and landing. Always. Unless it’s a training situation, but even then, there are safeguards. So why was the co-pilot flying? That’s the million-dollar question. And honestly, it doesn’t add up.
2.2 Experience Levels: A Huge Gap
The captain had over 15,000 flight hours. The co-pilot? Around 3,400. Now, 3,400 hours isn’t nothing—it’s not like they were some rookie. But here’s the kicker: there’s a difference between being qualified and having that gut instinct that only comes from thousands more hours in the air. Could that have made a difference? Maybe. We don’t know yet.
3. Why This Changes Everything
3.1 Protocols Exist for a Reason
Aviation rules aren’t just suggestions—they’re written in blood, as they say. Takeoffs and landings are when things get dicey, which is why the most experienced pilot is supposed to be in control. So was this a calculated decision? A mistake? Or something else entirely?
3.2 Remember Germanwings?
This whole thing brings back bad memories. Back in 2015, that Germanwings crash happened partly because roles in the cockpit weren’t clear. One pilot was locked out, the other… well, you know the story. Point is, confusion in the cockpit never ends well.
4. What the Experts Are Saying
Captain Rohan Seth—guy’s been flying for decades—put it bluntly: “This isn’t normal. Unless they were running a drill, the captain should’ve been flying.” Others are wondering if fatigue played a role, or if there was some last-minute crew switch. Whatever the reason, the aviation world’s demanding tighter enforcement of protocols. Like, yesterday.
5. Where the Investigation Goes From Here
Now they’re digging deeper—black box data, voice recordings, the works. Final report won’t be ready for months, but here’s what keeps me up at night: Were there warning signs the crew missed? System failures nobody caught? The answers could rewrite how airlines handle safety.
6. The Lesson We Can’t Ignore
At the end of the day, this crash screams one thing—cockpit procedures can’t be flexible. Not during takeoff, not ever. Airlines need to drill this stuff into crews until it’s second nature. Because when things go south at 30,000 feet, there’s no room for “who’s supposed to do what again?”
Final Thoughts
This co-pilot detail? It’s a game-changer. Until we get the full report, we won’t know for sure what happened. But here’s what I do know—aviation safety isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about doing things the right way, every single time. And if this crash teaches us anything, it’s that the rules exist for a damn good reason.
Source: Aaj Tak – Home