In the aftermath of the AI-171 crash on June 12 that claimed 260 lives, Air India has reported a sharp increase in pilot sick leaves, the Union government informed Parliament on Thursday, July 24. On June 16 alone, 112 Air India pilots, including 51 commanders and 61 first officers, called in sick, the government said.
“Air India’s 112 pilots, comprising 51 commanders and 61 first officers, reported sick on June 16… DGCA has already issued a medical circular regarding the mental health of flight crews and air traffic controllers,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the Lok Sabha, according to The Times of India.
However, the response did not include pilot sick leave data for any other dates or provide reasons for the sudden spike.
Apart from its Boeing 787s, Air India’s fleet also includes Airbus A320 family aircraft, Boeing 777s, and Airbus A350s.
In response to a question by MP Jai Prakash, who asked whether the government had taken any remedial measures such as holding post-trauma mental health workshops to support affected pilots, the Ministry outlined existing mechanisms to address mental health concerns in aviation.
Mohol stated that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) already has a medical circular in place, issued in February 2022, which provides guidance for operators and DGCA-empanelled medical examiners, The Indian Express reported.
The circular includes “quick and effective methods to assess mental health that can easily be performed by the DGCA empanelled medical examiners” during routine examinations. It also recommends the “introduction of a separate, standalone, and customised training capsule for the pilots and ATCOs to recognise and manage the adverse effects of mental health conditions.”
Earlier this month, DGCA directed Indian carriers, especially major airlines like Air India and IndiGo, to conduct post-trauma mental health workshops for flight crew in light of the psychological stress following the AI-171 crash.
According to multiple pilots, many – especially those operating Boeing 787s like the one that crashed in Ahmedabad last month – have been grappling with emotional distress.
“The conversation in cockpits these days is mostly limited to what could have caused the crash. What is it that really went wrong? That is eating us up. We are not buying the pilot suicide theory that has been fuelled by AAIB’s extremely questionable preliminary report,” said several pilots.
The DGCA circular reiterates the importance of regular mental health assessments and customised training to help flight crews and air traffic controllers recognise and manage the “adverse effects of mental health conditions.”