Latest news with #DineshK
Kuwait Times
4 days 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
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Demand for fear of flying therapy spikes after Air India disaster
A therapy course designed to help people conquer their fear of flying has seen a huge spike in demand after over 200 people lost their lives in the recent Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad. The disaster that occurred moments after take-off two weeks ago, has since prompted a substantial rise in enquiries for the programme. Retired Air Force officer Dinesh K., 55, runs Cockpit Vista, India's sole "fear of flying solutions" centre, located in Bengaluru. His $500 course, which combines flight simulation with counselling, has received more than 100 enquiries since the crash, a stark contrast to its previous average of about ten a month. Dinesh explains his approach to overcoming aerophobia: "Fear of flying is typically to do with things happening on an aeroplane - the sounds, motion, vibrations ... exposure therapy is the only solution." During a tour of his facility, he demonstrated how cockpit controls relate to movements that often unnerve passengers. The centre is equipped with simulators for both Boeing and Cessna planes, allowing participants to experience landings and take-offs from a pilot's perspective. This immersive experience aims to help individuals understand that not every vibration or sound during a flight signals danger, thereby alleviating their anxieties. 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 12 June accident, which aviation and mental health experts said had led to an unusually high number of counselling requests. Some travellers 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 travellers 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 U.S. consumers by research firm Prodege found 55 per cent of travellers had higher anxiety, while 38 per cent 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. Flying is typically seen as a safe mode of transport, and crashes during takeoff are especially rare. The International Civil Aviation Organisation 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 travellers, 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 travellers 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 per cent soon after the Air India crash, while 30-40 per cent 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.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘Bloody terrified': Flying anxiety peaks in India after fatal Ahmedabad crash
BENGALURU, June 27 — Retired Air Force officer Dinesh K. has seen a surge in demand for his US$500 (RM2,115) 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 counselling at his Cockpit Vista centre for 'fear of flying solutions' in Bengaluru, the only one in India. The centre has received more than 100 enquiries since the disaster, compared to a previous average of about 10 a month. 'Fear of flying is typically to do with things happening on an aeroplane — 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 centre has a simulator for a Boeing and Cessna plane to help people experience how landings and take-offs 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 counselling requests. Some travellers 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. An investigation team inspects the wreckage of Air India flight 171 a day after it crashed in a residential area near the airport, in Ahmedabad June 13, 2025. — AFP pic 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 travellers 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 per cent of travellers had higher anxiety, while 38 per cent 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 take-off 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 (198.12m) 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 travellers, five mental health experts said. Retired Indian Air Force (IAF) wing commander K. Dinesh poses for pictures next to the layout of a cockpit in the demo room of Cockpit Vista in Bengaluru, India June 23, 2025. — Reuters pic 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 US$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 travellers 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 per cent soon after the Air India crash, while 30-40 per cent 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
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
US$500 therapy, avoiding Boeing: Indians cope with flight anxiety after Ahmedabad crash
Retired air force officer Dinesh K. has seen a surge in demand for his US$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 counselling at his Cockpit Vista centre for 'fear of flying solutions' in Bengaluru, the only one in India. The centre has received more than 100 inquiries 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 aeroplane – the sounds, motion, vibrations … exposure therapy is the only solution,' Dinesh, 55, said during a tour of the facility where he showed how cockpit controls relate to movements that often worry passengers. The centre has a simulator for a Boeing and Cessna plane to help people experience how landings and take-offs 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 counselling requests.
News18
25-06-2025
- Health
- News18
Air India Crash: Kargil War Veteran From Bengaluru Helps People Overcome Fear Of Flying
Last Updated: A retired Indian Air Force officer in Bengaluru is seeing aerophobes queue outside his counselling office to combat their fear of flying post Ahmedabad Air India crash. A retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer from Bengaluru is now helping people combat their fear of flying. People are paying up to Rs 44,000 to tackle their aerophobia, which according to Cleveland Clinic happens when a person suffers from a crippling fear of flying. The number of such people who are afraid of air travel has also surged and retired IAF officer Dinesh K's 'exposure therapy" is in vogue, according to a report by news agency Reuters. 'Fear of flying is typically to do with things happening on an aeroplane – the sounds, motion, vibrations … exposure therapy is the only solution," the 55-year-old was quoted as saying by the news agency. He told Reuters that his counselling center, named Cockpit Vista, uses a combination of flight simulation and counselling and is the first of its kind in India. Dinesh's aerophobia eliminator course is spread over 14 hours. Dinesh, a Kargil War veteran, oversaw ground operations during the 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. London-based consultant Nidhi Bhatia said she won't board a Boeing again because 'the fear is just too much". 'I'm bloody terrified currently, and I don't want to get back on a flight," Bhatia, 25, who flew to Mumbai in an Air India Boeing 777 plane a day before the Ahmedabad crash said. Before this month's Air India flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad hardly a dozen people in a month queued up outside his clinic but now Dinesh K has gotten over 100 enquiries since the crash. Dinesh showed messages he received on his WhatsApp where many complained of 'losing confidence" after the crash while there were others who said it was 'too hard on the brain". Some travellers are becoming choosier 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. Countries in the West have more formal setups to help people tackle their fear of flying. Fatal crashes have often led to heightened anxiety and worry in flyers and those suffering from aerophobia are certainly more alert as the chilling 59-second CCTV clip showing the crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which killed 260 people, continues to make rounds on social media. Mental health practitioners have also told Reuters that many flyers have sought counselling following the crash and that the anxiety-inducing clips have increased the numbers of patient queries. The haunting 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 that housed a medical college and its mess premises and all of these events happened within 60 seconds. Psychologist Pankti Gohel told the news agency that many people were scared of letting their loved ones travel on planes, complaining of suffering from, 'debilitating anxiety" for their relatives in transit 'to an extent where they have been unable to focus on their daily chores". Five other mental health expert said that the disturbing footage was a key cause of the panic among Indian travellers. People were seeking help because they had developed insomnia or become obsessed with flight updates, they said. 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% of travellers had higher anxiety, while 38% 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.
