Air India, the flagship airline of India, is striving to enhance its safety protocols and overall operations after a series of hazardous incidents that occurred approximately 15 years ago. The airline's last fatal accident before a recent crash was in August 2020 when an Air India Express flight from Dubai tragically overshot the runway in Kozhikode, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and 19 passengers.
Founded in 1932, Air India was owned by the Indian government until 2022, when the Tata Group—India's esteemed business conglomerate and also the original proprietor of the airline—acquired it. Tata's chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, expressed condolences to the affected families following the recent incident, leading Air India to update its website to reflect a more somber tone.
Tata has integrated smaller airlines into the Air India brand while facing challenges in modernizing the airline's infrastructure. Air India and the relatively newer airline IndiGo now dominate the Indian aviation sector, collectively transporting 91% of domestic passengers. However, Air India struggles with acquiring new aircraft and recruiting pilots needed for its ambitious expansion plans.
The crash has also had financial repercussions, as shares in Tata Group companies like Tata Motors and Tata Consultancy Services fell approximately 3% upon news of the incident, and IndiGo's stock also took a downturn. Prior to the Kozhikode accident in 2020, Air India had a decade-long period without any such fatal incidents, although safety concerns had lingered since three near-misses were reported at Mumbai airport in 2009.
Air India's historical challenges include unprofessional practices, such as a plane flying without a pilot and an incident where a flight experienced an 11-hour delay due to a search for rodents on board. Following the recent crash, Air India stated its commitment to fully cooperating with the investigation into the incident, as it continues to face the task of restoring its reputation and ensuring safer travel for passengers.
Founded in 1932, Air India was owned by the Indian government until 2022, when the Tata Group—India's esteemed business conglomerate and also the original proprietor of the airline—acquired it. Tata's chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, expressed condolences to the affected families following the recent incident, leading Air India to update its website to reflect a more somber tone.
Tata has integrated smaller airlines into the Air India brand while facing challenges in modernizing the airline's infrastructure. Air India and the relatively newer airline IndiGo now dominate the Indian aviation sector, collectively transporting 91% of domestic passengers. However, Air India struggles with acquiring new aircraft and recruiting pilots needed for its ambitious expansion plans.
The crash has also had financial repercussions, as shares in Tata Group companies like Tata Motors and Tata Consultancy Services fell approximately 3% upon news of the incident, and IndiGo's stock also took a downturn. Prior to the Kozhikode accident in 2020, Air India had a decade-long period without any such fatal incidents, although safety concerns had lingered since three near-misses were reported at Mumbai airport in 2009.
Air India's historical challenges include unprofessional practices, such as a plane flying without a pilot and an incident where a flight experienced an 11-hour delay due to a search for rodents on board. Following the recent crash, Air India stated its commitment to fully cooperating with the investigation into the incident, as it continues to face the task of restoring its reputation and ensuring safer travel for passengers.
