The pilot of a Delhi-bound Air India flight collapsed moments before take-off from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport in the wee hours on Friday morning.
The Air India flight, AI 2414, was delayed due to the medical emergency, following which another pilot was rescheduled to operate the plane.
Air India Spokesperson says, "There was a medical emergency involving one of our pilots in the early hours of 04 July. As a result, the pilot was unable to operate flight AI2414 from Bengaluru to Delhi, for which he was rostered, and was taken to a local hospital immediately. He…
— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2025
“There was a medical emergency involving one of our pilots in the early hours of 04 July. As a result, the pilot was unable to operate the flight AI2414 from Bengaluru to Delhi, that he was rostered for, and was taken to a local hospital immediately,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The airline said the pilot is stable and the treatment is continuing. "He is currently stable but continues to be under the supervision of doctors at the same hospital," the statement added.
"Consequently, AI2414 was delayed and operated by another member of our cockpit crew. Our immediate priority is to assist the pilot and his family to ensure his speedy recovery," Air India added.
The incident comes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on June 20 instructed Air India to remove three officials, including a divisional vice president, from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. The civil aviation watchdog also directed the airline to take discipliniary action against the officials.
The DGCA pointed out that several violations were found with regard to flight crew being scheduled "despite lapses in licensing, rest and recency requirements."
In 2024, the DGCA slapped Air India with a fine of ₹90 lakh for operating a flight with non-qualified pilots along with ₹6 lakh and ₹3 lakh fines on the directors of operation and training respectively.
