logo
Ahmedabad crash fallout: DGCA directs AI & IndiGo to conduct post trauma workshops for 'worried' crew members

Ahmedabad crash fallout: DGCA directs AI & IndiGo to conduct post trauma workshops for 'worried' crew members

Time of India17 hours ago
NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed India's major airlines —
Air India
and
IndiGo
— to hold post trauma mental health workshop for their flight crew. The directive comes after witnessing a significant massive impact of the tragic June 12 AI 171 crash in which 260 people lost their lives on the mental health of both pilots and cabin crew.
AI even saw mass sick reporting by them soon after the crash on a few days as the many of the crew members were too stressed to report to work in the right frame of mind.
'The DGCA has asked AI to hold the workshops and offer support. AI despatch now often has a psychologist in case some crew members wants counselling before operating their flight. IndiGo, which has a very wide network, has been asked to conduct e-modules of this workshop,' said officials across airlines.
Pilots are especially on the tenterhooks as there has been no preliminary report even 24 days after the accident that could indicate what caused the crash just 30 seconds after take off. No one knows who all are investigating the crash, apart from AAIB chief. That suspense is taking its toll on everyone, but more so airline crew. Now it is common for crew to say a silent prayer first when an aircraft gets safely airborne and then when it completes its journey.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription
Techno Mag
Learn More
Undo
The DGCA has even directed the major airlines 'not to push' crew to come to work if they are not feeling upto it to operate a flight. 'Mental health affects physical health, which in turn affects the ability to operate flights safely. Till the cause, even a preliminary one, is known of AI 171 crash, the feeling of jitteriness among crew members is likely to continue,' they said.
'One of the two major Indian carriers has been putting crew members on standby duty whenever it wants, thereby inducing more stress among pilots even though there are required number of standby crew when the flight programme is published.
Then there are continuing pay issues with the fix pay being reduced to 40 hours from 70 earlier. Our weekly offs are not printed on the rosters. As it is this was causing both mental and financial stress among pilots.
The crash has made things even worse for us,' said pilots.
Multiple pilots, especially of the Boeing 787 that crashed in Ahmedabad last month, have been reporting trauma after the accident. 'The conversation in cockpits these days is mostly limited to what could have caused the crash.
What is it that went wrong. That is really eating us up. With no guidance from the probe panel so far, we are all in the dark and jittery,' said multiple pilots.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has guidelines on how aviation medical examiners should assess and evaluate pilots for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The European, Australian and International Civil Aviation Organisation also have guidelines for the assessment of PTSD in aviation. PTSD is known to compromise aviation safety.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Inside the teenage vaping crisis: Lungs, hearts, and minds at risk
Inside the teenage vaping crisis: Lungs, hearts, and minds at risk

India Today

time23 minutes ago

  • India Today

Inside the teenage vaping crisis: Lungs, hearts, and minds at risk

In school corridors and behind college hostel doors, a new health crisis is slowly taking shape. It doesn't carry the stench of cigarette smoke, neither does it leave ashes behind. But what it leaves is much worse. Early signs of addiction, lung damage, and mental health disruptions in teens as young as in India isn't just a Western trend that's made its way here. It's a growing public health emergency. And while the government did ban e-cigarettes in 2019 through the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, what followed was a different kind of challenge: unregulated access, poor enforcement, and widespread ignorance about its true users, mostly unaware of the internal toll, believe vaping is harmless, but doctors now say otherwise. Unfortunately, data backs them SIGNS ARE HERE News reports in 2023 found 96% of Indian school students in the age group of 14-17 years did not know that vapes and similar electronic devices are banned in India. Another 89% are unaware of their harmful effects, according to a study. Another survey revealed that 8.6% of schoolchildren aged between 13–15 years had already experimented with e-cigarettes. In urban areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, experts suggest that number may be much higher. There is mounting evidence of teens who have experienced vaping-related symptoms very early on in their life. These included persistent coughs, shortness of breath, early signs of high blood pressure, and even mild heart blockages in children as young as INFLAMMED AND STRUGGLING Vaping may look cleaner than smoking, but inside the body, it's anything but. A study that was documented in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine in 2024 found teens who vape had significantly reduced their lung capacity. Some even showed signs of bronchial inflammation and scarring. These changes were typically seen in chain at the Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai, reported a rise in adolescent patients (almost 40%) showing symptoms such as wheezing, chronic dry cough, and even what they call 'popcorn lung' - a health condition linked to exposure to diacetyl, a chemical found in many flavoured vape UNDER PRESSURE TOO SOON Unlike cigarettes, vape devices use nicotine salts, which deliver higher doses more rapidly into the bloodstream, which leads to a sharp increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and overall vascular ICMR-backed study discovered early warning signs of arterial stiffness and elevated CRP levels ( a protein that signals inflammation). These are markers typically associated with heart disease in adults. 'We now see 17-year-olds with symptoms we once saw only in middle-aged smokers,' says Dr. Ranjan Mathur, cardiologist from Delhi. 'And many of them have never touched a cigarette — just vapes.'BRAIN: STILL GROWING, EASILY HOOKED advertisementThe adolescent brain is still under construction, especially the prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Vaping is known to disrupt that process by overstimulating dopamine, making the brain get hooked to it. A study by NIMHANS also revealed a deep link between regular vaping and the issue of rising cases of teen anxiety, ADHD, and even low emotional control. 'The mental health impact of vapes is real, and it's growing,' says Dr. Meera Kumari, a child psychiatrist in Thane. 'We're not just dealing with addiction any more. We're dealing with emotional volatility, academic decline, and long-term behavioural changes.'POLICY GAP WIDE OPEN Despite the nationwide ban on e-cigarettes, the reality on the ground tells a different story. An NGO in their 2024 investigation revealed over 300 Instagram and Telegram sellers openly promoting vape devices, disguised as 'diffusers' or 'wellness inhalers.'It is true that schools in the metros are struggling to keep up. The vapes are devices that are small, and odourless. They look like USB drives, making detection nearly impossible without active have advised parents to have early, open conversations rather than disciplinary action against their wards. "Look out for signs like fruity smells, dry throat, anxiety, and changes in mood or concentration," advises Dr Puneet Sethi, a pulmonologist in also suggests that parents involve schools in awareness-building rather than punitive punishment. "Parents must push for more serious regulation of online vape sales, including influencer marketing online. The lungs, hearts and brain of our youth deserve better than vapour and denial," believes Dr Sethi. This is not harmless experimentation or yet another harmless phase. It's a fast-accelerating health problem disguised in modern packaging. While policies can always improve, the true solution lies in informed awareness, both at home and in schools.- Ends

Indigo pilot falls ill at wheel before take-off from Delhi to Pune, flight suffers 4-hr delay
Indigo pilot falls ill at wheel before take-off from Delhi to Pune, flight suffers 4-hr delay

New Indian Express

time25 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Indigo pilot falls ill at wheel before take-off from Delhi to Pune, flight suffers 4-hr delay

NEW DELHI: An Indigo pilot steering a flight from New Delhi to Pune fell ill inside the cockpit just before take-off on Friday (July 4) morning forcing a huge delay in the journey for passengers. In a strange coincidence, an Air India pilot had a similar experience the same morning just before he was to fly from Bengaluru to New Delhi. Flight 6E 2262 was supposed to take-off at 6 am from Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport. It took off at 10.05 am, according to flight tracking platform, An alternative pilot was assigned to fly the A321 Neo flight. The travel time for the journey between Delhi and Pune is only 2 hrs 45 minutes but the delay was 4 hrs and 5 minutes. Indigo confirms the incident In a statement, the airline said, 'One of our cockpit crew scheduled to operate IndiGo flight 6E 2262 from Delhi to Pune on July 4 felt unwell before take-off and the aircraft returned to bay, following the standard operating procedures (SOP). We ensured appropriate medical assistance for the unwell crew and an alternative crew was assigned to operate the aircraft, causing a delay in the flight.' The airline added the flight suffered a further delay due to temporary restrictions at Pune airport.

Parul University achieves a remarkable debut in global rankings, ranked among Top 50 Indian institutions in THE Impact Rankings 2025
Parul University achieves a remarkable debut in global rankings, ranked among Top 50 Indian institutions in THE Impact Rankings 2025

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Parul University achieves a remarkable debut in global rankings, ranked among Top 50 Indian institutions in THE Impact Rankings 2025

Vadodara-based Parul University has established its presence on the international academic platform by securing an impressive entry in the international standings, securing a position in the esteemed Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025. THE assess global universities on the basis of their initiatives and contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as put forward by the United Nations. This ranking makes Parul University Gujarat's only university to enter the international rankings and further emphasizes the university's commitment to sustainability and community development. The university has secured a position among the Top 50 Indian institutions for 'Overall Global Impact.' Ranking within the band of 1001-1500 on a global stage, this demonstrates the University's steady commitment to international engagement, development, tackling important social, economic, and environmental issues through learning and inquiry. The university has secured a notable ranking in SDG 4 - Quality Education within the 301-400 band, in turn ranking among the Top 20 institutions in India. Through its efforts to make education inclusive and fair, creating new avenues for continuing education, and advancing educational offerings, the university has contributed significantly to improving the quality of education. Under SDG 3 focusing on 'Good Health and Well-being,' the University was placed in the 801-1000 range worldwide, and in the Top 40 within India. By means of strong healthcare education, mental well-being initiatives, and community health outreach, the university persists in promoting a culture of wellness on and outside its grounds. In the field of SDG 5 regarding Gender Equality, the university achieved a global ranking within the band of 601-800, placing it among the Top 30 institutions in India. Through inclusive leadership, fairness initiatives for opportunity and robust frameworks supporting gender, the University is leading the way of equity throughout all tiers of its educational framework. Moreover, the university ranked among the Top 50 in India for SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals and ranked within the band 1001–1500 globally. By means of significant partnerships with global universities and leaders, corporate leaders, governmental organizations, and community groups, the university continues to establish connections that foster shared advancement. Commenting on this accomplishment, Dr. Devanshu Patel, President of Parul University, stated, "This worldwide acknowledgment reflects our dedication to transformative and inclusive education, expansion, and sustainable progress. We take pride in representing Gujarat and India globally and continue to commit to creating a better, fairer future through our educational and community efforts.' These rankings demonstrate Parul University's conviction that education serves as a catalyst for change and the organization keeps expanding internationally while staying strongly dedicated to fostering a more equal and empowered future for all. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store