🛫 Anxiety in the Skies: Pilots and Cabin Crew Speak Out After Tragic Plane Crash
Date: June 21, 2025
Tragedy in the Air, Trauma on the Ground
In the aftermath of the devastating Air India Flight AI171 crash on June 12, which claimed over 270 lives, the emotional toll on passengers has been evident. But behind the scenes, there’s another group silently battling the aftermath: the pilots and cabin crew.
The incident has ignited a surge of anxiety and fear within India’s aviation community. For many pilots, the tragedy is not just a statistic—it hits painfully close to home.
“It Could Have Been Me”: Silent Grief Among Aviators
“I was flying the plane the same day as the crash, the next, and even the day after,” shared an Air India Group pilot, speaking under anonymity. “It could have been me. It could have been any of us.”
That quiet acknowledgment of fate and fragility is now echoing through cockpits and crew lounges across the country. The pilot added, “Every call from family asking if we’re alive just adds to the emotional weight. Our families are just as traumatised as we are, yet we still need to fly.”
Emotional Weight of Duty
Aviation professionals are trained to handle high-pressure scenarios. But emotional resilience doesn’t mean emotional immunity. Many are now openly acknowledging the mental strain, especially after a crash of this magnitude.
Veteran pilot Captain Anil Rao explained, “We have to dangle between the two extremes. We accept that tragedy has happened, learn from it, and ensure it doesn’t happen again. That’s our life.”
Such statements reflect the inner conflict many aviation staff experience: honoring duty while processing collective trauma.
Unofficial Incident: Panic Before a Flight?
Sources within the aviation industry also revealed an unconfirmed report involving a pilot scheduled to operate a Delhi-Copenhagen flight just two days after the crash. The pilot reportedly experienced a panic attack and chose to step down, with another pilot taking over.
Although the incident hasn't been officially confirmed, it has sparked wider discussions about psychological well-being in aviation. The very suggestion of such a breakdown reflects the heightened emotional atmosphere in which flight crews are now operating.
Stigma and Silence: Fear of Speaking Up
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had, in 2023, launched a peer support and buddy program to encourage pilots to access mental health services. The initiative was designed to normalize conversations around emotional health in a field that traditionally discourages displays of vulnerability.
However, pilots say that enrolling in the program might have unintended consequences.
“Signing up means being grounded without pay,” said the same Air India pilot. “So we don’t come forward. It feels more like a public relations initiative than real psychological support. Nobody wants to be viewed as unfit to fly.”
This hesitation speaks volumes about the structural stigma surrounding mental health within the aviation sector.
The Hidden Cost of Mental Resilience
While mental health in the general public is slowly being destigmatized, the aviation industry remains behind. Pilots are still often judged by their ability to appear stoic, disciplined, and emotionally detached—even in the face of tragedy.
But this standard is being challenged.
“We’re human,” said another cabin crew member. “We feel the weight of every news update. When passengers are nervous, we need to appear calm. But sometimes, we’re just as scared.”
The emotional load is not limited to pilots alone. Cabin crew members, many of whom form tight-knit teams, are dealing with post-traumatic stress in their own way—some silently, others through whispered conversations during off-duty hours.
A Cultural Shift Long Overdue
There is growing consensus within the aviation community that mental health support systems must become more compassionate, confidential, and financially secure. Experts suggest:
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Psychological evaluations post-crisis should be mandatory but non-punitive.
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Paid leave for trauma-related stress should be offered without penalty.
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Airlines must normalize therapy sessions for pilots and crew, not as an exception, but as a standard.
Above all, there needs to be a shift in how vulnerability is viewed in aviation—not as a weakness, but as a component of responsible flying.
Public Trust and Emotional Labor
While flight safety protocols and mechanical checks continue to evolve, emotional safety within aviation still lags. Yet it is this unseen layer—psychological preparedness—that may prove to be the industry’s most important frontier.
Passengers may see confident faces and crisp uniforms, but behind them are professionals who carry the invisible weight of every crash, every emergency, every anxious passenger, and every call from family asking: “Are you safe?”
✈️ Conclusion: Duty Beyond the Sky
In the words of Captain Rao: “We must learn, grow, and never forget.” But for that to happen sustainably, the aviation sector must provide better tools for its people—not just training manuals and simulators, but mental health safety nets.
The crash of AI171 has left a mark not only on the families of the deceased but also on an entire profession that flies every day with courage—and quiet, unspoken fear.
📎 Article Attribution:
This article is created by: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/anxiety-in-the-skies-pilots-cabin-crew-trauma-families-stress-worry-mental-health-iaftermath-ahmedabad-plane-crash-death-duty-10078127/lite/
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