13 Aug 2026

#2 August 2026: India Aviation Newsletter

Air India Captain Under Investigation After Phuket-Delhi Altitude-Loss Incident

India’s aviation authorities are investigating the captain of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight after an altitude-loss incident shortly after take-off on 4 August. Reuters reported that the aircraft dropped by around 300 feet, a confirmatory drug test for the captain was positive for marijuana, and the flight later landed safely in Delhi.

IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Chennai After Engine Failure

An IndiGo flight operating from Kolkata to Chennai made an emergency landing at Chennai on 12 August after its left engine reportedly failed shortly before landing. A full emergency was declared at Chennai airport, and the aircraft landed safely after emergency protocols were activated.

Indian Aviation Leadership Changes Place Air India And IndiGo In Focus

Reuters reported that India’s aviation sector is entering a critical leadership phase, with Tewolde Gebremariam taking charge at Air India and Willie Walsh assuming leadership at IndiGo. The report placed Air India’s safety, compliance and financial challenges alongside IndiGo’s focus on international expansion and operational scale.

Acumen’s Take

On Air India’s Altitude-Loss Investigation

The Air India investigation places renewed attention on safety governance, crew compliance and regulator oversight within a fast-growing aviation market. For airlines, operational discipline and transparent incident management remain essential to maintaining public and regulatory confidence.

On IndiGo’s Emergency Landing

The IndiGo emergency landing underlines the importance of aircraft reliability, crew readiness and airport emergency response procedures. As Indian carriers operate high-utilisation networks, maintenance oversight and incident response capability remain central to operational resilience.

On Indian Airline Leadership

Leadership changes at Air India and IndiGo come at a pivotal stage for Indian aviation, with both airlines facing different strategic pressures. Execution quality, safety culture and international network discipline will shape how India’s largest airline groups convert market growth into sustainable performance.