Issue of pilot rest back in focus

Months later, in October that year, Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson said in a message to employees that the airline had launched a PSP for pilots "offering the support of professionals and mental health specialists to anyone needing assistance under the protection of complete confidentiality".

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His message added that the airline had also launched Buddy.AI, "giving pilots the opportunity to connect with trained volunteers sharing similar professional backgrounds and an understanding of the challenges they face".

Emails sent to all major Indian airlines, including the Air India Group, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, on plans supporting the emotional health of flight crew did not elicit a response until press time.

Since the crash, operations of at least four flights involving Indian carriers have been disrupted after technical snags were detected, either before takeoff or mid-air, resulting in delays and emergency landings.

Though several pilots and cabin crew members acknowledged a sense of anxiety during flying duty, they emphasised that years of training helps them manage such situations better due to professional preparedness.