Lucknow is experiencing significant repercussions in its aviation training sector following the recent Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash on its Ahmedabad-London route. The tragedy, which resulted in the loss of all 244 individuals on board, including crew and passengers, has prompted a wave of anxiety among students pursuing aviation careers, leading to a notable increase in dropouts and withdrawal requests from local training institutes.
Administrators from two different aviation institutes in the Hazratganj area of Lucknow, who preferred to remain unnamed, confirmed a sharp rise in students discontinuing their courses since the incident. Trainees, previously enthusiastic about careers in flying, are now grappling with fears regarding the inherent risks of aviation professions.
Simran Khan, a young trainee who recently withdrew from a prominent aviation academy in Hazratganj, expressed her concerns. "It was always my dream to work as cabin crew, but after seeing what happened in the Ahmedabad Air India crash, I don’t think I can take that risk anymore. No career is worth a life," she stated.
Similarly, Palak Sinha, a student from an aviation academy in Gomtinagar, recounted, "My parents are more worried and they requested me to join any other profession but not aviation." This sentiment is widely shared among students who have opted to discontinue their training, with many citing family pressure to explore safer career paths. Some students have reported experiencing sleepless nights and persistent thoughts related to plane crashes.
Aviation training centers across Lucknow are confronting the ripple effects of the disaster, facing sudden reductions in enrollment and a surge in inquiries about refund policies. While acknowledging the understandable fear, many institute heads emphasize that this sentiment may not accurately reflect the overall safety record of the aviation industry.
Aviation expert suggestion:
Razi Hasan, a former senior cabin crew member with 17 years of experience in aviation, suggested to the Free Press Journal that "Ground time is unexpectedly shorter for the security check teams and if they are given the time to properly go through each parameter then I am sure mishaps can be controlled. Aviation remains one of the safest modes of transport."
What a mental health expert says:
Clinical psychologist Dr. Neha Anand highlighted the critical need for mental health support in such circumstances. "For young minds, watching their dreams suddenly become linked to death and disaster can be deeply destabilising," she commented. Dr. Anand further noted that "Aviation institutes do include mental well-being sessions, but students must now find the strength to move past this trauma."
