A troubling mid-air incident involving an Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong on June 1 has once again raised serious questions about the current state of aviation safety.
Passengers aboard flight AI-314, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, reportedly experienced a disturbing event about an hour after takeoff when one of the aircraft’s doors began to shake and emit noise, suggesting a possible compromise in the door seal due to cabin pressure.
In an account first shared by a LinkedIn user, it was claimed that the cabin crew used paper napkins to plug the gaps and tighten the door, continuing the flight without diversion.
A photograph accompanying the post showed the door area stuffed with tissues — a makeshift response that has drawn criticism for its apparent lack of professionalism and safety protocol.
Although the flight landed safely in Hong Kong and Air India later stated that the sound originated from a decorative panel — not the pressurized structure — the episode has unsettled many frequent flyers.
The airline assured that engineering checks post-landing found no technical faults, and the aircraft was cleared for its return journey.
However, this incident comes just days after the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI-171 on June 12, which killed 241 people. The AI-171, also a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, with only one survivor — an event that sent shockwaves across the aviation industry and public alike.
Such occurrences, increasingly frequent in recent months, are prompting a larger conversation: Has air travel suddenly become unsafe?
For decades, commercial aviation was considered one of the safest modes of transport, with rigid safety standards and continuous engineering oversight.
Yet recent events — from emergency landings due to engine failures, mid-air cabin pressure drops, to makeshift repairs like napkins plugging a vibrating door — appear to erode that confidence.
Experts argue that post-pandemic pressures, cost-cutting, aging aircraft, and staff shortages may be contributing to operational oversights.
While aviation authorities insist that safety remains paramount and incidents remain statistically rare, passenger perception tells a different story.
The psychological impact of recurring technical failures and life-threatening situations is real, especially when responses seem improvised or inadequate.
It raises a critical question for regulators and airlines worldwide: Are we compromising air travel safety in the pursuit of efficiency and profitability?
Until a comprehensive review is undertaken and transparent reporting becomes standard, such mid-air incidents — once rare and unthinkable — may unfortunately become part of a growing pattern that challenges the very notion of safe skies.
