Air India controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
AAIB opens investigation into Air India Phuket-Delhi flight altitude drop
Investigation
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) initiated a formal independent investigation into an in-flight incident involving Air India flight AI 2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, 2026, during which an Airbus A320 (registration VT-EXO) experienced a sudden altitude variation of about 300 feet; 20 passengers and four cabin crew were injured. France's BEA and Airbus technical representatives are assisting under ICAO protocols.
Stated objective. to determine the contributing factors to prevent future recurrences
Source excerpt
During the sudden altitude variation, 20 passengers and four cabin crew members sustained injuries.
France’s aviation safety authority—the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'aviation civile (BEA)—as the investigation authority of the State of Design and Manufacture, along with technical representatives from Airbus, is extending full technical assistance to the AAIB.
The Bureau emphasized that the sole objective of the probe is to determine the contributing factors to prevent future recurrences
2021
Passenger data breach
A cyberattack on SITA, Air India's data processor, exposed personal information associated with millions of passengers, including identity, passport, payment and ticket data. Air India advised affected customers to change passwords and said it had not found conclusive evidence of misuse at the time.
2021
Passengers file compensation petition against Air India
Lawsuit filed
An elderly couple filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking compensation from Air India, alleging that the airline failed to provide medical supplies and sufficient food during a 16-hour flight. The court issued notice to Air India and other respondents; the allegations are not established as findings.
Stated objective. To enforce the arbitration award and make Air India liable for the judgment.
Source excerpt
In a one-of-a-kind case, an elderly couple filed a petition in the Delhi High Court on Monday, seeking compensation from Air India for not providing medical supplies during a 16-hour flight.
The couple has also alleged that the national carrier didn’t have sufficient food during their journey.
The high court issued notice to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Air India, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and GMR Aerocity, which runs IGI airport, seeking their stand on the couple’s petition.
2021
Air India discloses passenger data breach linked to SITA incident
Issue disclosure
Air India disclosed that personal data of about 4.5 million passengers had been compromised following an incident at SITA, its data processor. Air India said the compromised information included names, payment-card details and passport information. The article also reports that Air India investigated the incident, secured compromised servers, engaged external specialists, notified card issuers and reset frequent-flyer passwords.
Company response
Investigation — Air India
it had investigated the security incident
Remediation — Air India
secured the compromised servers
Ongoing disclosure — Air India
notified the credit card issuers
Remediation — Air India
had reset passwords of its frequent flyer program
Source excerpt
The stolen information included passengers’ names, credit card details, date of birth, contact information, passport information, ticket information, Star Alliance and Air India frequent flyer data, Air India said in a statement (PDF).
Air India said this week that personal data of about 4.5 million passengers had been compromised following the incident at SITA, Indian flag carrier airline’s data processor.
The struggling Indian airline, which has been surviving on taxpayer money, claimed that it had investigated the security incident, secured the compromised servers, engaged with unnamed external specialists, notified the credit card issuers, and had reset passwords of its frequent flyer program.
2021
Air India discloses passenger data breach
Issue disclosure
Air India said a cyber attack on its data processor in February affected about 4.5 million passengers worldwide and involved personal data, including names, contact details, passport details, ticket information and credit card details.
Source excerpt
India's national airline Air India said on Friday a cyber attack on its data processor in February affected about 4.5 million passengers around the world.
Air India, a member of global airlines consortium Star Alliance, said the breach involved personal data, such as name, contact, passport, ticket and credit card details, registered between Aug. 26, 2011 and Feb. 20, 2021.
2019
Air India fined over meal service complaint
Fine or penalty
The Punjab Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission increased the fine against Air India to Rs 40,000 after finding deficiency in service in a complaint that a vegetarian couple was served non-vegetarian food. It also directed the airline to pay Rs 7,000 in legal expenses.
Source excerpt
The consumer forum has also asked Air India to pay Rs 7,000 as legal expenses to the couple.
2001
Commission-related corruption allegations
The Ministry of Civil Aviation charged managing director Michael Mascarenhas over commissions that ministry reports said caused financial loss to the airline. He was later suspended.