When an Air India Boeing 787 suffered an accident while landing at Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, 2025, the aviation sector was rattled. As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report, social media exploded with speculation — not just about the aircraft or the weather, but about the pilots.

While it's inappropriate to jump to conclusions before the final accident report is out, the incident has rekindled a difficult but necessary conversation: the mental health of commercial airline pilots.

This discussion isn’t new globally. Yet in India, it remains “the elephant in the room”—rarely acknowledged and even more rarely addressed with empathy or urgency.

🛫 Germanwings Disaster: A Global Wake-Up Call

The most chilling example of pilot suicide remains the Germanwings flight 9525 crash in 2015. The Airbus A320, flying from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, was intentionally crashed into the French Alps by its co-pilot, who had a history of depression. All 150 passengers and crew died.

This tragic event made international regulators sit up. It forced aviation authorities, from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S., to rethink policies on pilot mental health disclosure, routine psychological evaluations, and cockpit access rules.

But India has not followed suit with urgency.

💼 The Pilot's Profession: Glamorous Outside, Gruelling Inside

The life of a commercial airline pilot is often perceived as elite, privileged, and well-compensated. The reality, however, can be incredibly stressful.

Pilots operate under:

• Erratic schedules

• Sleep disruption and jet lag

• Long periods away from family

• High responsibility and intense scrutiny

• Rigid physical and mental health requirements

• Fear of disqualification over disclosure

These pressures, if left unaddressed, may accumulate quietly in the background, impacting performance and wellbeing.

Yet most pilots suffer in silence.

Why? Because the system does not encourage honesty about mental health. Admitting to depression, anxiety, or burnout may lead to license suspension, loss of income, or even career-ending consequences.

🇮🇳 Where India Stands: Still a Long Way to Go

India, home to one of the fastest-growing aviation sectors, currently lacks a comprehensive mental health policy for pilots.

Yes, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandates annual medical checkups and includes mental health screening in its Class I medical examinations. But this is often:

• Superficial

• Rushed

• Outdated

• Lacking in psychological depth

India has no robust policy for:

• Regular psychological assessments by qualified aviation psychologists

• Confidential, stigma-free reporting mechanisms

• Post-incident trauma counselling

• Peer support networks

Most pilots, therefore, mask their symptoms, fearing punitive action.

⚖️ Pilot Mental Health vs Passenger Safety: A False Binary

One of the biggest challenges is balancing safety and support.

Shouldn’t the public be worried if pilots with mental health issues are flying planes? Certainly.

But more importantly, shouldn’t we worry about a system that drives pilots underground, where they’re too afraid to speak up, even when they need help?

This false binary — mental health vs aviation safety — is counterproductive.

A progressive approach would ensure that:

• Pilots are supported before issues escalate

• Transparent mental health policies build trust

• Supportive environments are created so pilots report early

• Airlines are held accountable for mental health infrastructure

🔍 Recent Cases: The Pattern is Clear

There have been at least 19 documented instances globally of pilots deliberately crashing aircraft as acts of suicide — often after a history of untreated or ignored mental illness.

India has seen several concerning incidents where pilot fatigue, disorientation, or unresponsiveness have played roles in mid-air anomalies. While not all involve mental health issues, the warning signs are clear.

The Air India incident in Ahmedabad, though still under investigation, presents an opportunity to discuss this crucial issue publicly.

🧠 What Needs to Change

India’s aviation sector — both regulators and private carriers — must adopt a more modern, empathetic, and scientific approach to mental health.

Recommended policy actions include:

1. Mandatory annual psychological evaluations using aviation-trained mental health professionals.

2. Confidential mental health hotlines managed by neutral third-party organisations.

3. Peer support programmes — already successful in the U.S. and Europe.

4. Mental health leave, just like sick leave, without stigma or penalties.

5. Mandatory trauma debriefs after near-misses, emergency landings, or accidents.

6. Aviation mental health cell within DGCA, independently audited and empowered.

🌍 Global Best Practices to Learn From

• Lufthansa introduced dual-occupant cockpit policies and regular psych evaluations post-Germanwings.

• The FAA’s HIMS Program (Human Intervention Motivation Study) supports pilots with substance use and mental health disorders in a non-punitive framework.

• In Australia, CASA runs a "Fit to Fly" mental health campaign targeting pilot self-assessment.

India must not wait for another tragedy before acting.

🧭 Final Thoughts: Time to Remove the Stigma

If the aviation sector truly believes in the slogan “Safety First,” then pilot mental health cannot remain a taboo.

Airlines should look beyond token checklists and invest in a culture of care.

Regulators should shift from compliance mode to compassion mode.

And the public should realise that behind every cockpit door is a human being — trained, disciplined, yes, but also vulnerable to the same psychological stressors as anyone else.

Ignoring mental health won’t keep passengers safe.

Addressing it just might.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Indiqube Spaces, GNG Electronics, Brigade Hotel Ventures, TSC India, Patel Chem Specialities, Monarch Surveyors & Engineering Consultants, TSC India, Swastika Castal, Savy Infra, NSDL.

The Current active IPO are Monika Alcobev.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.