July 25, 2025: Best photos from around the world
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
36 minutes ago
- India Today
Fear is in the air: Numbers explain Indian passengers' flying anxiety
In the aftermath of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad and a series of emergency landings, both in India and abroad, the air has been thick with a fear of flying. From the perspective of would-be passengers, this makes sense. Headlines, of late, have been dominated by news of technical snags, midair diversions, and more. On Saturday, an American Airlines flight aborted takeoff in Denver due to a landing gear malfunction that led to smoke and fire on the assess public safety in aviation, India Today's Data Intelligence Unit analysed the Indian airline sector across multiple indicators. We found that between 2021 and 2023, Indian airlines reported over 500 technical defects to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation each year. In 2022, the number stood at 528. However, by 2024, it decreased to 421, and in 2025, only 183 cases were reported as of July 21. In 2021, Indigo reported the highest number of technical defects, followed by SpiceJet. This trend continued in 2022, with Indigo leading with 215 cases and SpiceJet following with 143. In 2023, Indigo's defect count rose to the trend shifted in 2024. Air India Ltd, which includes both Air India and Air India Express, topped the list with 253 reported cases. Indigo's numbers, in contrast, dropped significantly to just 46. In 2025, Air India remained at the top with 85 technical defect cases reported so far, while Indigo came second with 62. But technical defects are not the only reason for flight for cancellationsWhile technical issues used to be one of the leading causes of flight cancellations, that's no longer the case. In 2023, about 29 per cent of cancellations were due to technical problems. But by 2025, that dropped to 19 per factors have since taken the lead. Weather remains a major cause, accounting for 44 per cent of cancellations in 2023 and 35 per cent in 2025. Operational issues such as crew shortages, baggage delays, and scheduling conflicts contribute consistently, making up around 10–12 per cent of cancellations each year. Meanwhile, cancellations due to miscellaneous reasons have risen sharply from 17 per cent in 2023 to 34 per cent in from passengersDespite improvements in aircraft maintenance and a decline in technical faults, passenger dissatisfaction hasn't gone away. The number of complaints hit a five-year-high in 2023, when 5,513 grievances were filed. That number came down in 2024 to 4,016, but 2025 has already seen 3,925 complaints in just six months. If the trend continues, the total for this year may again cross the 5,000 response to growing safety concerns and violations of aviation guidelines, the DGCA has taken enforcement action against several airline companies. In 2023, airlines received 56 warnings, 203 suspensions, and 26 penalties for regulatory breaches. The number of enforcement actions increased significantly in 2024, with 203 warnings, 329 suspensions, and 112 penalties issued. Already this year, the DGCA has already issued 65 warnings, 61 suspensions, and 79 penalties.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Flight fear deepens! Anxiety soars among frequent flyers, say psychiatrists
The on June 12 in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, has left many air travellers shaken. As investigations continue into whether the accident was caused by pilot error or a mechanical failure in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the psychological impact is already visible. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to mental health experts, fear of flying has risen sharply, even among regular fliers. "After a tragedy like this, fear of flying naturally spikes," Dr Shefali Batra, a Mumbai-based psychiatrist told ET. The situation is being made worse by a string of recent flight-related incidents involving Air India and other airlines. These cases have heightened public concern and anxiety. Experts also say that constant exposure to disturbing news on social media is fuelling this fear. "Social media exposure to aviation disasters is amplifying anxiety," Dr Anjali Chhabria, another psychiatrist based in Mumbai told the outlet. "Even if someone hasn't experienced trauma personally, the constant stream of bad news creates a sense of danger," Chhabria added. The crash has not only raised safety concerns but also sparked growing mental health issues, with many passengers now experiencing travel anxiety or seeking therapy before boarding a flight. K Dinesh, founder of Cockpit Vista and a retired Indian Air Force wing commander, has witnessed the growing panic firsthand. He has seen CEOs gripping books like life jackets, elderly couples reliving past trauma, and some passengers freezing at the boarding gate, as per ET reports. To manage their fear, some turn to music, medication, or even alcohol. "Bars near boarding gates aren't just for leisure. Some passengers knock back four or five pegs just to get on board," he noted. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Psychologists say this anxiety is often stronger among high-achieving professionals like engineers, entrepreneurs, and scientists, people who are used to being in control. For them, the unpredictability of air travel adds another layer of stress that's hard to shake. "Flying forces them to surrender to an unseen pilot in a sealed cockpit," K Dinesh, of the Bengaluru-based counselling centre for fearful flyers told the outlet. "That's where the panic begins." Following the Air India incident, the centre has experienced increased enquiries. Their facility utilises flight simulators to replicate various flight conditions, including take-offs, landings, turbulence, and cabin acoustics in a controlled environment. Statistics indicate that in a standard 180-passenger aircraft, approximately 30-40% of passengers quietly experience varying degrees of anxiety or phobia, consistent with international aviation statistics. "People are altering travel plans, choosing trains over planes, or extending holidays to avoid flying. It may not be rational, but it's completely human," psychiatrist Batra said, adding that, "our brains are wired to fear the recent and the dramatic." Dinesh shared an observation about a well-dressed executive who appeared composed until perspiration was visible on his temple. "He hadn't turned a page in 15 minutes. When I asked, he admitted, 'I'm terrified of flying'," he noted. Aviation specialists note that this anxiety isn't limited to inexperienced travellers but often affects individuals with extensive knowledge and analytical capabilities. Experts observe that unlike ground transport, air travel provides no intermediate exit options, which some passengers find distressing. In severe cases, individuals have requested to disembark moments before departure. Aviation anxiety manifests in various ways beyond panic attacks. Chhabria observes that some couples now opt for separate flights to minimise risk exposure. "The media forgets a crash in five days. But a fearful flyer remembers it forever," ET reported quoting a therapist. For many fliers, the real struggle begins long before takeoff, sometimes even before they step into the airport.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Over 10 lakh flyers to US, yet no direct connect from Hyderabad
Representative Image HYDERABAD: Over 10 lakh passengers travel between Hyderabad and the United States every year. There are over 25 flights connecting Hyderabad to the US, operated by carriers such as Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Kuwait Airways, and Air India. But all of them are hopping flights. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has no direct flights to any of the American states, forcing flyers from the two Telugu states to transit through Mumbai, Delhi, or other Middle Eastern or European countries to reach their destinations in the US. This has led to longer and tiring travel schedules, especially for frequent flyers. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad For instance, passengers flying from Hyderabad to Dallas spend nearly 24 hours in transit, with layovers in cities like Dubai, Doha, Frankfurt, or London. Direct US-India routes generally take 12 to 18 hours, depending on the destination. Air India had kicked off a non-stop weekly service between Hyderabad and Chicago in Jan 2021, but it was discontinued in less than a year. The direct flight had a travel time of around 16 hours and 45 minutes. Layovers add to fatigue 'The Hyderabad to Chicago route remains one of the busiest international routes, but direct services were discontinued unexpectedly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Struggling With Belly Fat? Try This at Home Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo In the absence of nonstop options from Hyderabad or Bengaluru, travellers mostly transit via Delhi,' said Abdul Majeed Faheem, chairman, Travel Agents Federation of India (Telangana and AP). Layover points like Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, and Mumbai have become common for US-bound travellers from Hyderabad, despite increasing demand for direct services. 'Non-stop flights would ease travel for those visiting their loved ones in the US or coming home during holidays. Right now, we spend 24 hours including layovers, which is tiring and inconvenient,' said R Anuroop, a techie who lives in Texas. Data from GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd shows 8.5 lakh passengers travelled between Hyderabad and the US in 2020. This grew to 10 lakh in 2024 — a 30% rise over pre-Covid levels, the highest growth among Indian metro airports. Passenger traffic is spread across the East Coast, West Coast, and Central US, with about 75% of travellers heading to cities like Dallas, New York, Newark, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. The demand spans business travellers, students, leisure flyers, and those visiting friends and relatives. The GMR Group attributes the lack of direct connectivity to the short-term unavailability of wide-body aircraft and restricted airspace due to geopolitical issues. Talks on with the airlines 'Given the strong passenger volume across multiple segments, airlines have been evaluating direct routes. We are in active talks with Indian and US carriers to establish direct flights,' said GHIAL CEO Pradeep Panicker. Insiders say airlines prefer to concentrate US routes through Mumbai and Delhi to retain load viability, despite rising demand in Hyderabad. GHIAL also pointed out that Hyderabad-US is the largest unserved origin-and-destination market. On average, 1,462 passengers travel to the US daily, equivalent to five widebody aircraft. 'Establishing direct connectivity would boost travel frequency. Current demand supports a strong three-days-a-week service. Peak business travel occurs from Feb to Aug, followed by high student movement,' Panicker added.
