Air India’s Turnaround Is Dogged by Technical Snags, Safety Audits, and Fatal Tragedies

When the Tata Group reacquired Air India in January 2022, the privatisation was presented as the beginning of a new era for Indian aviation. The group promised to transform the loss-making national carrier into a world-class airline, backed by an ambitious fleet expansion that included orders for hundreds of new aircraft.

Four years into Tata’s stewardship, however, Air India’s transformation has been accompanied by a series of operational disruptions, regulatory action, safety incidents and growing questions over the airline’s systems and oversight.

Data submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation shows that Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, accounted for roughly 40% of significant aircraft defects reported across Indian carriers, with defect reports more than doubling over the past two years.

Timeline of Events (2022–2026)

• Jan 2022 | Tata Acquisition Completed: Tata Group officially takes control of Air India, initiating an ambitious 5-year overhaul plan (Vihaan.AI).

• Jun 2023 | Flight AI 173 Emergency Landing: A San Francisco-bound Boeing 777 suffers an engine oil pressure drop, forcing a diversion to Magadan, Russia, leaving passengers stranded for 30 hours.

• Mar 2024 | DGCA Fines Air India over Fatigue: India's aviation regulator imposes an ₹80 lakh penalty for systematic Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) violations on long-haul routes.

• Jun 12, 2025 | Flight AI 171 Fatal Crash in Ahmedabad: A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick loses engine power moments after takeoff and crashes into a medical college hostel, resulting in 260 fatalities.

• May 2026 | Tailstrike at Bengaluru Airport: An Airbus A320 experiences a tailstrike during an aborted landing and go-around manoeuvre at Bengaluru.

• August 4, 2026 | AI 2379 Altitude Loss: Air India flight AI 2379, flying from Phuket to Delhi, experiences a sudden loss of around 300 feet in altitude following a serious in-flight incident. Several passengers and crew members are injured. The incident is classified as serious and is under investigation.
• August 11, 2026 | Pilot Tests Positive for Marijuana: The captain of AI 2379 reportedly tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory laboratory test following mandatory post-incident psychoactive-substance screening. The initial screening had already triggered further testing, and both pilots had been taken off the roster pending the investigation. The development has prompted further scrutiny of Air India’s safety oversight and DGCA testing procedures.
• August 12, 2026 | Six-Hour Air India Express Delay in Kolkata: Passengers at Kolkata airport protested after an Air India Express flight to Chennai was delayed by nearly six hours because of a technical problem. Around 170 passengers reportedly complained about a lack of timely information and assistance, adding another episode of operational disruption to the airline group’s recent run of incidents.

Anatomy of the Crisis: Root Causes

Aviation experts and safety auditors point to a convergence of legacy, structural, and geopolitical factors driving the ongoing operational strain:

• Aging Legacy Fleet: Decades of state underinvestment led to deferred maintenance, resulting in a higher frequency of sensor, hydraulic, and component failures.

• Complex Multi-Way Merger: Integrating four distinct carriers (Air India, Vistara, AIX Connect, and Air India Express) created operational friction in unifying safety protocols, software, and crew rosters.

• Global Supply Bottlenecks: Delays in engine overhauls and spare parts from global manufacturers have forced extended service lives for older airframes scheduled for retirement.

• Geopolitical Headwinds: Airspace restrictions requiring longer routing on ultra-long-haul routes have caused increased fuel burn and faster accumulation of engine flight hours.

Management & Regulatory Actions

Air India's executive team maintains that these challenges represent the most difficult phase of a long-term fleet overhaul. Management highlights that legacy planes are being progressively retired as newly delivered Airbus A350s and Boeing 737 MAX jets enter active service.

Concurrently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has placed the airline under enhanced surveillance, conducting unannounced spot audits across major hubs—including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru—to inspect maintenance logs and line clearances before flights are released for departure.