Crash sparks fear of skies for many fliers

The Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London that stuttered on takeoff and crashed last week, killing more than 270 people on the plane and on the ground, has turned the flight dreams of several fliers into nightmares.

- Dipali Banka [e-mail] MUMBAI

Reports of the deaths, amplified by non-stop social media visuals, videos, commentary and user chatter, has embedded the fear of flying deep within even those who are usually nonchalant during takeoff.

This has prompted ma them to cancel travel plans, dump Air India ticket avoid the same make of aircraft (Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner) as the ill-fated AI171. It has also sent several people scurrying for medical attention and psychological support, according to medical practitioners and aviation experts Mint with.

K. Dinesh, a retired wing commander with the Indian Air Force, who now runs Cockpit Vista, a flight anxiety treatment centre in Bengaluru, said there has been a manifold increase in the inquiries he has received the accident.