Fear of flying rises sharply in India after Air India crash
NEW DELHI, India, June 25: Following the recent crash of Air India flight 171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, there has been a sharp rise in demand for therapy courses addressing fear of flying in India. Retired Air Force officer Dinesh K., who runs the only specialized center in the country for this issue, reports a tenfold increase in inquiries.
Dinesh's Cockpit Vista center in Bengaluru offers a unique $500 therapy program combining flight simulation and counselling to help individuals overcome their fear of flying. 'Fear of flying is usually triggered by airplane sounds, motions, and vibrations,' said Dinesh, 55, explaining that exposure therapy is the most effective treatment. The center's simulators for Boeing and Cessna aircraft allow participants to experience takeoffs and landings from the cockpit perspective, helping them understand that typical noises and movements are not necessarily signs of danger.
Since the June 12 crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which tragically killed 260 people, the center has received over 100 inquiries — up from about ten monthly before the disaster. Messages shared by Dinesh revealed many people struggling with "losing confidence" and describing the situation as "too hard on the brain." The widely circulated 59-second CCTV footage of the crash has intensified anxiety among travelers.
This surge in fear is reflected in behavioral changes: some passengers are now carefully selecting airlines or aircraft types, while others are postponing or cancelling trips altogether. London-based marketing consultant Nidhi Bhatia, who flew on an Air India Boeing 777 a day before the crash, said, 'I am filtering on the basis of not having to fly a Boeing … I'm bloody terrified currently, and I don't want to get back on a flight.'
Unlike India, many Western countries have more formal support systems to help people cope with severe flying anxiety—known as aerophobia—especially after fatal crashes. For example, after a collision in Washington involving an American Airlines plane and a helicopter that killed over 60 people, a survey found that 55% of U.S. travelers experienced increased anxiety, with 38% reconsidering or cancelling travel plans. In India, Google Trends showed a spike in searches for 'flying fear' immediately after the Air India crash.
Despite flying being one of the safest modes of transport, crashes—particularly during takeoff—are extremely rare. The International Civil Aviation Organization reported just 1.87 accidents per million departures in 2023. The Ahmedabad CCTV footage revealed the Air India plane climbed to 650 feet before suddenly losing altitude and crashing within 60 seconds.
Mental health experts say the graphic footage has caused widespread panic. Many people now suffer from insomnia, obsessive monitoring of flight updates, and extreme anxiety about the safety of loved ones traveling by air. Psychologist Pankti Gohel described the anxiety as 'debilitating,' affecting daily functioning and causing constant worry about whether relatives have landed safely.
Dinesh, who retired as an Air Force wing commander in 2014 after overseeing operations during the 1999 Kargil war, offers a 14-hour course at Cockpit Vista. He also provides personal accompaniment on clients' first flights post-therapy.
The crash has also damaged Air India's reputation, with many travelers seeking alternatives. Since its acquisition by Tata Group in 2022, the airline has faced criticism for service quality and an aging fleet. In 2025, the airline was warned over missed safety checks on escape slides for three Airbus aircraft. The Indian Association of Tour Operators reported a 15-20% drop in flight bookings immediately following the crash, with cancellations reaching 30-40%. 'Passengers are now asking unusual questions about aircraft types,' said the group's president, Ravi Gosain. 'People don't want to hear about Dreamliners.'
This combination of increased fear, mental health concerns, and declining confidence in certain airlines is reshaping the Indian air travel landscape in the wake of the tragic crash.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
20 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait Airways rolls out enhanced Elite Service at T4
KUWAIT CITY, June 29: As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance passenger services, Kuwait Airways has officially launched its new Elite Service at Terminal 4 (T4), offering an array of premium services to travelers, excluding those flying to New York. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Al-Faqan, announced the initiative, describing it as one of the airline's latest enhancements designed to elevate the travel experience for its valued customers. 'The Elite Service provides a comprehensive package, beginning with travel procedures completed from the comfort of the passenger's home,' said Al-Faqan. 'This includes baggage weighing, issuing boarding passes, home pick-up, and reception at Terminal 4.' Al-Faqan further explained that the service continues with expedited procedures at T4, access to the elite lounge before departure, ground transportation to the aircraft if a passenger bridge is unavailable, and VIP reception upon return, including assistance with arrival procedures and limousine service to the passenger's home. Customers can request the Elite Service through the Kuwait Airways mobile app or website between 72 and 48 hours before departure. Home check-in procedures will be conducted 24 hours prior to the flight, with passengers subsequently transported to Terminal 4. Al-Faqan emphasized the airline's commitment to customer satisfaction, especially with the onset of the 2025 summer travel season. 'Kuwait Airways continues to strive to offer top-tier services and exceptional in-flight entertainment to ensure a comfortable and engaging journey,' he said. He concluded by stating that the company remains focused on achieving key milestones in 2025 and is actively working to enhance its operational systems to meet the highest standards of service quality. In conjunction with the Elite Service, Kuwait Airways has also launched a marketing campaign for its Family Offer, providing discounts of up to 30 percent on all destinations in economy class for groups of three to nine travelers. Bookings are available from June 26 to 30, 2025, for travel between July 1 and November 30, 2025. The airline operates a modern fleet comprised of the latest Boeing and Airbus models, equipped with cutting-edge technology and onboard entertainment. Designed with customer comfort in mind, the aircraft feature state-of-the-art seating and services tailored to meet international aviation standards. Kuwait Airways is supported by a highly skilled workforce and remains dedicated to improving service quality and operational efficiency in line with global developments in commercial air travel.
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Kuwait Times
Bloody terrified! Flying anxiety peaks in India after fatal plane crash
BENGALURU: Retired Air Force officer Dinesh K has seen a surge in demand for his $500 therapy course to help people overcome their fear of flying since Air India flight 171 crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad two weeks ago. Dinesh uses a combination of flight simulation and counseling at his Cockpit Vista center for 'fear of flying solutions' in Bengaluru, the only one in India. The center has received more than 100 enquiries since the disaster, compared to a previous average of about ten a month. 'Fear of flying is typically to do with things happening on an airplane - the sounds, motion, vibrations ... exposure therapy is the only solution,' Dinesh, 55, told Reuters during a tour of the facility where he demonstrated how cockpit controls relate to movements that often worry passengers. The center has a simulator for a Boeing and Cessna plane to help people experience how landings and takeoffs appear from the cockpit and understand that not every vibration or sound during a flight signals danger. WhatsApp messages Dinesh received, and shared with Reuters, showed individuals complaining about 'losing confidence' after the crash while others said it was 'too hard on the brain'. A chilling 59-second CCTV clip showing the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which killed 260 people, has been widely shared on social media and TV channels since the June 12 accident, which aviation and mental health experts said had led to an unusually high number of counseling requests. Some travelers are becoming more choosy in selecting their airline and aircraft - Boeing or Airbus - while others are so anxious they are taking more drastic steps by rescheduling or cancelling their air travel plans altogether. 'I am filtering on the basis of not having to fly a Boeing ... I'm bloody terrified currently, and I don't want to get back on a flight,' said London-based Indian marketing consultant Nidhi Bhatia, 25, who flew to Mumbai in an Air India Boeing 777 plane a day before the Ahmedabad crash. Unlike India, Western countries have many more formal setups to help people tackle their fear of flying, in its most intense form known as aerophobia, as fatal crashes often spike worries among travelers across the world. Days after an American Airlines plane collided with a helicopter in Washington, killing more than 60 people, a survey of 1,000 US consumers by research firm Prodege found 55 percent of travelers had higher anxiety, while 38 percent had reconsidered or cancelled travel plans. Google Trends data shows searches for the term 'flying fear' in India hit 'peak popularity' a day after the Air India crash, and the phrase was still being widely searched. 'Debilitating anxiety' Flying is typically seen as a safe mode of transport, and crashes during takeoff are especially rare. The International Civil Aviation Organization said there were 1.87 accidents per million departures in 2023, its most recent annual air safety report. Of the nine hull loss accidents without fatalities recorded in 2024, only two occurred on take off, according to Airbus' website. The airport CCTV recording from Ahmedabad shows the Air India plane rose to a height of 650 feet (198.12 m) after it took off, but suddenly lost altitude, crashing in a fireball into a nearby building—all within 60 seconds. The disturbing footage was a key cause of the panic among Indian travelers, five mental health experts said. People were seeking help because they had developed insomnia or become obsessed with flight updates, they said. Others were scared of letting their loved ones travel on planes, complaining of 'debilitating anxiety' for their relatives in transit 'to an extent where they have been unable to focus on their daily chores' because they are constantly checking messages to see if they have landed, said psychologist Pankti Gohel. In Bengaluru, the $500 Cockpit Vista course is spread over 14 hours and led by Dinesh, who oversaw ground operations during the undeclared 1999 Kargil war between India and Pakistan and retired as an Air Force wing commander in 2014. He also offers to accompany worried clients on the first flights they take after completing the course. Since the crash, many travelers fear travelling with Air India and are seeking alternative airlines, according to Jaya Tours, a mid-sized booking agency in Mumbai. Taken over by the Tata Group from the Indian government in 2022, Air India continues to face criticism for poor service and an outdated fleet. This year, the airline was also warned about flying three Airbus planes which lacked mandatory inspection checks on escape slides. The Indian Association of Tour Operators, which represents more than 1,600 agents, said overall flight bookings dropped by 15-20 percent soon after the Air India crash, while 30-40 percent of booked tickets were also cancelled. 'We are getting very unusual questions about aircraft type. Earlier passengers didn't really care about what kind of aircraft it is,' said the group's president, Ravi Gosain. 'People don't want to hear about Dreamliners.'— Reuters
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
Fear of flying rises sharply in India after Air India crash
NEW DELHI, India, June 25: Following the recent crash of Air India flight 171 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, there has been a sharp rise in demand for therapy courses addressing fear of flying in India. Retired Air Force officer Dinesh K., who runs the only specialized center in the country for this issue, reports a tenfold increase in inquiries. Dinesh's Cockpit Vista center in Bengaluru offers a unique $500 therapy program combining flight simulation and counselling to help individuals overcome their fear of flying. 'Fear of flying is usually triggered by airplane sounds, motions, and vibrations,' said Dinesh, 55, explaining that exposure therapy is the most effective treatment. The center's simulators for Boeing and Cessna aircraft allow participants to experience takeoffs and landings from the cockpit perspective, helping them understand that typical noises and movements are not necessarily signs of danger. Since the June 12 crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which tragically killed 260 people, the center has received over 100 inquiries — up from about ten monthly before the disaster. Messages shared by Dinesh revealed many people struggling with "losing confidence" and describing the situation as "too hard on the brain." The widely circulated 59-second CCTV footage of the crash has intensified anxiety among travelers. This surge in fear is reflected in behavioral changes: some passengers are now carefully selecting airlines or aircraft types, while others are postponing or cancelling trips altogether. London-based marketing consultant Nidhi Bhatia, who flew on an Air India Boeing 777 a day before the crash, said, 'I am filtering on the basis of not having to fly a Boeing … I'm bloody terrified currently, and I don't want to get back on a flight.' Unlike India, many Western countries have more formal support systems to help people cope with severe flying anxiety—known as aerophobia—especially after fatal crashes. For example, after a collision in Washington involving an American Airlines plane and a helicopter that killed over 60 people, a survey found that 55% of U.S. travelers experienced increased anxiety, with 38% reconsidering or cancelling travel plans. In India, Google Trends showed a spike in searches for 'flying fear' immediately after the Air India crash. Despite flying being one of the safest modes of transport, crashes—particularly during takeoff—are extremely rare. The International Civil Aviation Organization reported just 1.87 accidents per million departures in 2023. The Ahmedabad CCTV footage revealed the Air India plane climbed to 650 feet before suddenly losing altitude and crashing within 60 seconds. Mental health experts say the graphic footage has caused widespread panic. Many people now suffer from insomnia, obsessive monitoring of flight updates, and extreme anxiety about the safety of loved ones traveling by air. Psychologist Pankti Gohel described the anxiety as 'debilitating,' affecting daily functioning and causing constant worry about whether relatives have landed safely. Dinesh, who retired as an Air Force wing commander in 2014 after overseeing operations during the 1999 Kargil war, offers a 14-hour course at Cockpit Vista. He also provides personal accompaniment on clients' first flights post-therapy. The crash has also damaged Air India's reputation, with many travelers seeking alternatives. Since its acquisition by Tata Group in 2022, the airline has faced criticism for service quality and an aging fleet. In 2025, the airline was warned over missed safety checks on escape slides for three Airbus aircraft. The Indian Association of Tour Operators reported a 15-20% drop in flight bookings immediately following the crash, with cancellations reaching 30-40%. 'Passengers are now asking unusual questions about aircraft types,' said the group's president, Ravi Gosain. 'People don't want to hear about Dreamliners.' This combination of increased fear, mental health concerns, and declining confidence in certain airlines is reshaping the Indian air travel landscape in the wake of the tragic crash.
