3+ mon, 4+ week ago (637+ words) Across the UK, a single question echoes amid unprecedented airport turmoil: Who is Martin Rolfe? As millions of travellers face delays, cancellations and stranded holidays, attention is sharply focused on the man steering the nation's air traffic control. With frustration soaring and pressure mounting, calls are growing louder for Rolfe's resignation, casting a harsh spotlight on his leadership during one of the most disruptive moments in recent aviation memory. Sources have confirmed that a 'software glitch' in radar systems was responsible for the failure at the National Air Traffic Service (Nats), leaving thousands stranded. Travel experts warn the fallout may persist for several days. On Wednesday, a technical fault at Nats' control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, led to over 150 flight cancellations in Britain. The system failure left controllers without a complete view of British airspace. By today, 31 July, at least…...

5+ mon, 2+ week ago (535+ words) In May 2024, more than 300 cabin crew from Air India Express, the budget carrier of Air India, staged a dramatic 'mass sick leave' and switched off their phones. This action resulted to the grounding of close to 100 flights and disrupted operations nationwide. In its aftermath, the protest raised serious red flags about operational fatigue and poor working conditions. These issues are expected to be brought up following the fatal crash of Air India Flight 171 today, five minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport. Crew grievances brought up in the 2024 protest included salary cuts, forced sharing of hotel rooms during stopovers, and a promotion system perceived as favouring new hires over long-serving staff. Many said they felt 'exhausted and disrespected.' They added that chronic scheduling pressures left little time for meaningful rest. Fatigue: Unseen Danger in the Cockpit? The dangers of fatigue…...

4+ mon, 4+ week ago (434+ words) Just two days after the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI171 on 12 June, another serious safety incident has raised further concerns about the airline's operational standards. On 14 June, Air India Flight AI187 from Delhi to Vienna experienced a sudden 900-foot loss of altitude shortly after take-off, triggering onboard stall warnings and ground proximity alerts. Both pilots have now been suspended pending the outcome of a formal investigation by Indian aviation authorities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's civil aviation regulator, has now removed both the captain and first officer from duty. A full investigation is underway to determine whether pilot error, system malfunctions or inadequate pre-flight checks contributed to the incident. This latest incident comes at a time when Air India is already under significant scrutiny following the fatal crash of AI171, which claimed multiple lives earlier in the week…...

5+ mon, 1+ week ago (721+ words) Across the globe, thousands of travellers discovered their carefully planned journeys had become casualties of escalating tension in Middle East following America's weekend bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities. What started as a military operation half a world away had transformed into aviation's worst nightmare, turning the Middle East's busiest air corridors into no-fly zones practically overnight. The numbers tell only part of the story. British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France'carriers that built their reputations on reliability'suddenly found themselves playing a desperate game of aerial chess, moving aircraft like pieces across a board where the rules kept changing by the hour. The aviation meltdown began over the weekend when British Airways was forced to make split-second decisions as Operation Midnight Hammer unfolded. One BA flight departing London Heathrow on Saturday evening was dramatically diverted to Zurich after reaching Saudi Arabian…...

4+ mon, 4+ week ago (437+ words) Up to six million Qantas customers, including UK-based travellers, have had personal details exposed in what the airline says is its largest-ever data breach. The incident has raised fresh concerns over identity theft and online scams linked to the aviation industry. Qantas confirmed the breach on 30 June after detecting unusual activity on a third-party customer service platform managed by an offshore contact centre in Manila, Philippines. Compromised information includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and frequent-flyer membership numbers. The airline stressed that no credit card details, passwords, PINs or passport numbers were accessed. However, cybersecurity experts warn that the type and volume of personal data exposed could still leave customers vulnerable to fraud. The breach affects both domestic and international customers. UK travellers who use Qantas for flights between the UK and Australia are among those potentially…...

4+ mon, 2+ week ago (585+ words) Fresh concerns are mounting over the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Air India Flight 171 last month, as new reports suggest the flight's captain, who died in the crash along with 240 others, had previously taken medical leave for mental health issues. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, was the lead pilot of the London-bound aircraft that went down just after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June. The catastrophe claimed the lives of nearly everyone on board, leaving just a single survivor, and triggering one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India's recent history. Now, medical records submitted to investigators indicate that Sabharwal had been on medical leave in the last few years due to reported episodes of depression and other mental health concerns, The Telegraph revealed over the weekend. 'I have heard from several Air India pilots who told me he…...

4+ mon, 1+ week ago (431+ words) Delta Air Lines has started using artificial intelligence to set ticket prices on domestic flights across the United States. The new system was introduced in early 2025 as part of a limited rollout. It aims to adjust fares in real time based on booking trends, demand, and traveller behaviour. Delta says the goal is to improve pricing accuracy and efficiency. However, the move has sparked debate over whether tickets will become cheaper or more expensive. Delta Air Lines has confirmed it is now using artificial intelligence (AI) to determine ticket prices on select domestic flights. The programme, which began with a pilot across 3% of routes, is set to expand to 20% by the end of 2025. The airline is partnering with Israeli tech firm Fetcherr to test whether AI can optimise seat pricing more efficiently than traditional fare systems. The project, which will…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (703+ words) India's Supreme Court has ruled that the pilot of an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick was not responsible for the devastating crash that killed 260 people, including 52 British nationals. The judgment brings relief to the pilot's family after months of speculation surrounding the cause of the tragedy. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI 128, went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport on 12 June, crashing into a nearby medical college. Of the hundreds on board, only one person survived. Justice Surya Kant, delivering the ruling, said that 'nobody can blame' Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, for the fatal crash. The court stated that the available evidence did not support claims that the pilot was at fault. 'It's extremely unfortunate, this crash, but you should not carry this burden that your son is being blamed. Nobody can blame him for anything,' Justice…...

4+ mon, 3+ week ago (539+ words) The preliminary findings into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 are now in the hands of aviation authorities. Early evidence suggests that mechanical failure may not have caused the disaster, prompting investigators to examine whether pilot error may have played a role in the incident. Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad to London Heathrow, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. The airline said the flight carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, 7 Portuguese citizens, and 1 Canadian. One passenger survived and is aiding the investigation. Video captured the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), indicating a total loss of engine and electrical power. Investigators, according to The Air Current, are focusing on possible mismanagement of the fuel control switches or thrust levers, which may have caused both engines to shut down. With…...

1+ mon, 3+ week ago (504+ words) An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying from Amritsar to Birmingham made a tense but safe emergency landing on 4 October 2025, after its ram air turbine (RAT), a last-resort backup power system, unexpectedly deployed on final approach. The aircraft touched down safely and was immediately taken out of service for inspection, according to the airline and preliminary aviation records. The flight's RAT deployed at roughly 400 feet above the runway, triggering an emergency alert. Air India confirmed in a statement that 'all electrical and hydraulic parameters were found normal' and that the aircraft 'performed a safe landing at Birmingham'. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew; however, the incident prompted a comprehensive technical review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India. The DGCA stated that early findings indicate no system faults or maintenance irregularities, although RAT activation under normal…...