Mental Health Neglect: How India's Aviation Industry Is Failing Its Crew

June 16, Monday — just four days after the fatal Air India crash and as the preliminary inquiries were underway, a startling anomaly emerged in the skies: 112 pilots flying for the Tata Group airline suddenly called in sick. This figure contrasts with the industry’s typical daily sick leave averages, which hover around 50-60 pilots per day, say sources.

India’s junior Civil Aviation Minister, Murlidhar Mohol dismissed the figures as a “minor increase" in sick leaves and did the minister provide reasons for the spike. The increase in leaves, however, is particularly notable given the timing, and suggests a possible link between the recent AI 171 tragedy and mental health of the crew.

It is noteworthy that this data reflects only a single day's count. There is no data on pilot or crew sick leave available publicly for any other dates or for any other airline. The industry-wide crisis runs deeper, as many pilots are hesitant to seek medical help fearing repercussions, including potential job loss, say industry insiders.

Experts warn that a crisis is brewing behind the cockpit doors — one that underscores the invisible toll of stress, fear, anxiety and burnout or post-trauma distress faced by those entrusted with our safety, while raising questions about the industry's and regulatory authorities' handling of mental health and psychological issues among flight crews.

In Feb. 2023, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, had issued a circular with detailed guidelines on mental health support for flight crews, which included easy and quick mental health checks by DGCA-approved medical examiners during regular medical exams and special training modules to help crew understand and deal with mental health challenges. It also includes a peer support programme designed to let employees seek help in a supportive environment—without fear of disciplinary action.

However, there are no laid down mechanisms to address mental health issues which are enforceable as part of airline policies, said Captain Chinta Kishore, a former member of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

"While nobody will say this openly fearing ostracisation by the airline or being harassed, there's a large disconnect between the crew and airline management when it comes to mental health," he said. "Fatigue management needs to be strictly enforced."

"It could have been any of us," said a senior pilot, who flies the same type of aircraft involved in the crash, a Boeing 787. "Though we are trained to stay calm under pressure, disasters like this—and with 787's strong safety record—it's natural for doubt to creep in. Built to resist errors, then how did the fuel switches of the Dreamliner flip midair? Can such a shutdown occur without deliberate intent? We keep thinking about it, but still haven't found answers, after all we've never heard of anything like this before."

Since the devastating Air India crash that claimed 260 lives, countless theories have circulated on social media about what truly caused it, fuelling further panic. A young first officer, requesting anonymity, revealed: "I try to push these theories away... But there have been days—at least two—when I couldn’t bear the weight anymore. I took sick leaves because I couldn’t sleep the whole night, haunted by intrusive thoughts of what might have been the final moments. They replay like a nightmare, unforgiving."

“Go to the stopwatch on your smartphone. Press start. Wait for 32 seconds. Press stop. Now ask yourself: What could you do in that time? Brush your teeth? Have a shower? Wear your clothes? Have a cup of coffee? None of the above. That is the time the pilots of AI 171 got,” read a message on a pilot’s social media group just days after the crash.

The words reflect a sentiment common among many airline crews in India.

Air India has reached out to pilots and cabin crew offering them peer support, as well as an in-house psychologist in case of mental health concerns.

Yet, the uncertainty and trauma of the recent event is deeply affecting flight crews' mental health to this day. Untreated psychological distress can impair judgement, reaction times, and overall safety — paradoxically increasing the risk of accidents rather than preventing them, say experts.

"Airlines need to expeditiously have mandatory counselling sessions with each of the 787 crew and sensitise handling mental stress," acknowledged Captain Kishore. "Crew reporting sick due to anxiety or mental stress should not be penalised or harassed."