Aviation is usually just about getting from point A to point B without thinking twice. But when an Air India flight crashed, the world stopped. Honestly, it’s gut-wrenching. Aviation safety has come a long way, but India’s geography and the high-pressure environment of monsoon landings have created some of the most challenging conditions for pilots anywhere on the planet. We aren't just talking about a single event here. To understand the safety landscape, we have to look at the patterns—the "tabletop" runways, the fatigue, and the split-second decisions that changed everything.
People often look for a single "smoking gun." Was it the engine? Was it the weather? Usually, it's a "Swiss cheese" model of failure where all the holes line up perfectly.
The Kozhikode Tragedy: What Really Went Wrong in 2020
The crash of Air India Express Flight 1344 at Kozhikode (Calicut) in August 2020 remains one of the most significant recent disasters. It was a repatriation flight during the pandemic. Imagine the relief of those passengers finally heading home, only for the Boeing 737 to skid off the end of a tabletop runway.
Tabletop runways are essentially airports built on high ground with steep drops at either end. Calicut is notorious for this. On that rainy evening, the pilots were dealing with a tailwind and a very slick runway. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report was pretty damning regarding the violation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The pilot-in-command landed way too far down the runway.
There wasn't enough tarmac left to stop.
The plane plummeted 35 feet into a valley and broke in two. It’s a miracle the death toll wasn't higher, but 21 people, including both pilots, lost their lives. The investigation pointed toward "pilot error," but that's a bit of a simplification. It ignores the systemic pressure to land despite bad weather and the physical limitations of an airport that left zero room for error. If you’ve ever flown into Mangalore or Kozhikode, you know that "sinker" feeling in your stomach as the ground rushes up.
Mangalore 2010: The Lesson We Didn't Learn Fast Enough
Before Kozhikode, there was Mangalore. This was another Air India flight crashed scenario that shared eerie similarities. In May 2010, Air India Express Flight 812 overshot the runway. 158 people died.
The CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) revealed something chilling: the sound of snoring.
The captain, Zlatko Glusica, had been asleep for a significant portion of the flight. When he woke up, he was disoriented. Despite the co-pilot’s repeated warnings to "go around"—which basically means abort the landing and try again—the captain persisted. He tried to force the plane down. It didn't work. This highlighted a massive issue in the industry: "sleep inertia." When you wake up from a deep sleep and immediately try to perform complex tasks, your brain isn't fully online.
It’s scary to think about. You’ve got a massive machine moving at 150 miles per hour, and the person in charge is essentially in a fog.
Why Tabletop Runways Are So Dangerous
You might wonder why we even have these airports. Basically, in places like Kerala or Sikkim, the terrain is so hilly that there’s nowhere else to put a runway. You have to flatten the top of a hill.
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- No Overrun Area: Most airports have a "buffer zone" of grass or sand. Tabletops have a cliff.
- Optical Illusions: At night or in rain, these runways can look closer or further away than they actually are.
- The "Black Hole" Effect: When there are no lights around the airport, pilots lose their sense of perspective.
Safety experts like Captain Mohan Ranganathan had been warning about Calicut for years before the 2020 crash. He basically said it was an accident waiting to happen. He was right. It’s one of those situations where the technical experts see the red flags, but the bureaucracy moves slowly.
Kanishka: The Darkest Day in Indian Aviation
We can't talk about Air India's history without mentioning Flight 182, the Kanishka. This wasn't a pilot error or a mechanical failure. In 1985, a bomb exploded while the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland. All 329 people on board died. It remains the deadliest act of aviation terrorism before 9/11.
This changed everything about how we check bags. You know how you have to match your bag to your flight? That rule exists because of this crash. A passenger checked a bag but never boarded the plane. Back then, security was much more relaxed. Now, if you aren't on the plane, your bag comes off. No exceptions.
The Role of "Pilot Fatigue" in Modern Aviation
A lot of people think flying a plane is like using autopilot on a Tesla. It’s not. Especially in India, where the airspace is crowded and the weather is unpredictable. Pilot fatigue is a massive, ongoing conversation. Pilots are often flying multiple "legs" in a day, sometimes through the night.
The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has been under fire recently to update the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). Basically, pilots are tired. And a tired pilot makes mistakes. They miss a checklist item. They misjudge the wind. They don't react fast enough when the plane starts to drift.
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It’s not just an Air India problem; it’s a global industry problem, but the rapid expansion of Indian airlines has put a massive strain on the talent pool.
What Has Changed Since the Last Major Crash?
Following the 2020 Kozhikode incident, things actually started to move. The airport installed better lighting and "Engineered Material Arrestor Systems" (EMAS) were discussed. EMAS is basically a block of crushable concrete at the end of a runway that slows a plane down safely if it overshoots. Think of it like a runaway truck ramp on a highway.
Air India has also undergone a massive transformation under the Tata Group. They’ve ordered hundreds of new planes. Newer planes mean better technology, better sensors, and more automated safety features that can override human error in some cases.
But technology is only half the battle. The culture has to change too. Pilots need to feel empowered to say "I'm too tired to fly" or "This landing isn't safe, I'm diverting to another airport" without fearing they'll be punished by management.
How to Stay Safe as a Passenger
Honestly, flying is still the safest way to travel. Your odds of being in a crash are astronomical. But as a passenger, there are things you should actually pay attention to.
- Count the Rows: Know exactly how many rows you are from the nearest exit. In a crash, the cabin might be full of smoke. You need to be able to feel your way out.
- Keep the Belt Fastened: Most injuries happen during turbulence, not crashes. Even if the sign is off, keep it snug.
- The "Plus Three, Minus Eight" Rule: Most accidents happen in the first three minutes of takeoff or the last eight minutes of landing. This is the time to be alert. Don't have your headphones on max volume. Don't be asleep. Be aware of your surroundings.
- Footwear Matters: Don't fly in flip-flops. If you have to evacuate a burning plane or trek through debris, you want real shoes.
The history of every Air India flight crashed is a history of lessons learned the hard way. From the mountains of the Alps—where Homi Bhabha, the father of India's nuclear program, died in a 1966 crash—to the rain-slicked runways of Kerala, each tragedy has forced the industry to evolve.
Aviation safety is a "tombstone science." We learn from the dead to protect the living.
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Practical Steps for Travelers Following Aviation Safety
If you're concerned about safety records or want to be a more informed traveler, don't just rely on social media rumors. Use real data.
- Check the IOSA Registry: The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is the gold standard. Air India and most major carriers are part of this. It means they meet strict international safety criteria.
- Monitor Weather via Apps: If you're flying into a "tabletop" airport like Mangalore or Kozhikode during a monsoon, check the weather. If there's a massive storm, be prepared for a delay or a diversion. Diversions are actually a sign of a good pilot who prioritizes safety over schedule.
- Read the Final Reports: If you're a real aviation nerd, the AAIB (India) and NTSB (USA) publish full reports online. They are dry, technical, and incredibly eye-opening. They move past the "blame game" and look at the physics and psychology of what happened.
Aviation in India is in a massive growth phase. With the Tata Group's investment and stricter oversight from the DGCA, the goal is to make sure the mistakes of the past—the fatigue, the SOP violations, and the infrastructure gaps—don't repeat themselves. Stay informed, stay alert, and remember that every time you hear that "ding" of the seatbelt sign, there's a massive system of technology and human expertise working to keep you in the air.