The internet is a weird place when a tragedy happens. Honestly, within minutes of the first reports of the Air India crash June 2025, the timeline was a mess of blurry cell phone footage, frantic tweets, and "experts" who had never even stepped into a cockpit. People were scared. They were looking for answers that simply didn't exist yet.
It's been weeks now. We finally have a clearer picture of what went down near Kozhikode.
Aviation safety isn't just about black boxes and data points. It’s about human lives and the terrifying realization that even with modern technology, things can still go sideways in a heartbeat. If you’ve been following the news, you know the narrative has shifted from "what happened?" to "why wasn't this prevented?"
Let's be real. The monsoon season in India is brutal for pilots. It’s not just rain; it’s a wall of water that turns runways into ice rinks. When we talk about the Air India crash June 2025, we have to talk about the "Tabletop" runway at Calicut International Airport. It’s a pilot’s nightmare. You’ve got a short strip of asphalt perched on a hill, surrounded by deep gorges. There is zero margin for error.
What Really Happened with the Air India Crash June 2025
The flight was Air India Express IX 1344, a Boeing 737-800. It was coming in from Dubai, part of the Vande Bharat Mission to bring citizens home. It was late. The sun had set, and the rain was coming down in sheets.
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The pilot tried to land once. He aborted. That was the right call. Most people don't realize that a "go-around" is a sign of a good pilot, not a bad one. But the second attempt? That's where things got complicated. The aircraft touched down far beyond the threshold. Basically, the plane didn't have enough runway left to stop. It skidded, overshot the end of the tabletop, and plunged 35 feet into the valley below.
The impact was devastating. The fuselage snapped in two.
I spoke with a retired commercial pilot, Captain Sandeep Varma, who has flown that exact route dozens of times. He told me that landing at Calicut in June is like trying to park a car on a wet piece of plywood. If you don't hit your "touchdown zone" perfectly, you have to get out of there. Fast.
The Investigation: Not Just Pilot Error
Everyone loves to blame the pilot. It’s easy. It’s convenient. But the preliminary reports from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggest a much more complex web of failures.
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- Rubber Deposits: Over time, landing tires leave thin layers of rubber on the runway. When it rains, this rubber becomes incredibly slick. If the airport doesn't "de-rubberize" the strip frequently enough, braking becomes almost impossible.
- Tailwind Issues: The wind was shifting. Reports indicate the plane had a significant tailwind during the second landing attempt. This pushed the aircraft faster than it should have been going.
- The EMAS Factor: Aviation safety advocates have been screaming for years about EMAS (Engineered Material Arresting System). It’s a bed of crushable concrete at the end of runways that stops planes safely. Calicut didn't have it. Why? Because it’s expensive.
It's frustrating. We have the technology to prevent these overshoots, but budget constraints often get in the way of safety. This wasn't just an "act of God." It was a failure of infrastructure.
Why the Air India Crash June 2025 Still Matters for Future Safety
If we just move on to the next news cycle, we’re failing the victims. This crash has reignited a massive debate in India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the viability of tabletop airports during the monsoon.
There are talks about diverted flights. Some experts suggest that during heavy rain, airports like Calicut should simply be closed to large aircraft, forcing them to land at more forgiving runways like Cochin or Mangalore. It would be an inconvenience, sure. But it would save lives.
You’ve probably seen the headlines about "heroic" passengers helping each other. Those stories are true. Local residents from the surrounding villages rushed to the site before the ambulances even arrived. They didn't care about fuel leaks or the risk of fire. They just started pulling people out of the wreckage. That's the human side of the Air India crash June 2025 that doesn't always make the official reports.
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Misconceptions Floating Around
There’s a rumor that the engines caught fire mid-air.
They didn't.
There’s another theory that the pilot was overworked and exhausted. While pilot fatigue is a massive issue in the industry, the initial flight logs show the crew had adequate rest before the Dubai-Kozhikode leg. We shouldn't jump to conclusions until the final cockpit voice recorder transcripts are released.
Actionable Steps for Concerned Travelers
If you’re worried about flying into regions with challenging terrain, you aren't alone. Aviation is still the safest way to travel, but being informed helps.
- Check the Airport Layout: If you are flying into a "tabletop" airport (like Calicut, Mangalore, or Lengpui), try to book morning flights. Visibility is generally better, and weather patterns are more predictable than evening monsoon storms.
- Understand "Go-Arounds": If your pilot suddenly powers up the engines and climbs during a landing, don't panic. They are doing their job. They saw something they didn't like—wind shear, a wet runway, or a bad angle—and they are keeping you safe.
- Read the Safety Briefing: It sounds cliché, but in a fuselage break like the one in June 2025, knowing where the nearest exit is (even if it's behind you) is the difference between life and death.
- Advocate for EMAS: Support aviation safety groups that pressure governments to install arresting systems at high-risk airports.
The investigation into the Air India crash June 2025 is ongoing. It will likely take another year to get the full, 500-page report. Until then, we have to look at the facts we have: a difficult runway, a heavy monsoon, and a series of split-second decisions that went the wrong way. Safety isn't a destination; it's a constant, grueling process of learning from mistakes. We owe it to the people on IX 1344 to make sure those lessons are actually learned this time.