In a serious mid-air scare, an Air India flight en route from Delhi to Vienna suddenly dropped 900 feet shortly after takeoff due to a technical malfunction. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and the aircraft landed safely at its destination after a nine-hour journey. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of the incident and ordered an immediate investigation.
The flight in question, Air India AI-187, a Boeing 777, departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi bound for Vienna. Within minutes of takeoff, the aircraft began to descend rapidly due to what is now believed to be a technical fault. Panic gripped the cabin as passengers experienced turbulence and sudden altitude loss.
According to reports, the aircraft triggered cockpit alerts including “GPWS Don’t Sink” and “Stall Warning”, which indicated a critical drop below the designated flight path. The stick shaker alarm, which warns of an impending stall, also activated—further escalating the situation. The cockpit crew immediately took corrective action.
Demonstrating calm under pressure, the pilot managed to regain control of the aircraft and restored it to the appropriate altitude. The situation was brought under control, and the flight continued safely to Vienna, where it landed without further incident.
The DGCA has taken the matter seriously, citing potential risk to passenger safety. Both pilots involved in the incident have been temporarily grounded pending investigation. A full inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the technical failure.
Meanwhile, the aircraft was later flown to Toronto with a new crew for a detailed inspection and technical evaluation. This incident follows closely on the heels of the June 12 Air India aircraft crash in Ahmedabad, raising fresh concerns over operational safety within the airline.