DGCA asks airlines to conduct mental health workshops for crew after AI 171 crash

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed leading Indian carriers, including Air India and IndiGo, to organise mental health workshops for their flight crew following the psychological impact of the fatal Air India 171 crash on June 12, which claimed 260 lives.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Air India witnessed a wave of sick leave, as many crew members were too mentally distressed to operate flights. Officials say the DGCA has advised the airline to conduct workshops and provide psychological support, including making counsellors available at crew dispatch centres for those seeking pre-flight assistance. IndiGo has also been directed to implement digital versions of these workshops due to its extensive operational network, said a news report.

Pilots remain particularly anxious, as no preliminary investigation report has been released even 24 days after the incident, which occurred just 30 seconds after take-off. The lack of clarity about the cause and those involved in the probe—apart from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) chief—has only deepened the anxiety among crew members.

The DGCA has further advised airlines not to pressure crew into reporting for duty if they are not mentally prepared. “Mental well-being directly affects physical readiness and flight safety. Until there is clarity on what caused the AI 171 crash, nervousness among crew is expected to persist,” an official said.

Globally, aviation authorities—including the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Union, Australia, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)—have issued guidelines for assessing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in pilots, acknowledging its potential to compromise aviation safety. DeshGujarat