The UAE's aircraft accident investigation agency has recommended that India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) enhance regulatory oversight following a tail-strike incident involving an Air India Express aircraft at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. The recommendations aim to ensure airlines maintain proper focus on stabilised approach procedures during landing operations.

Incident Details

The incident occurred on April 22, 2025, when Air India Express flight IX331, operating from Calicut in Kerala, suffered a tail strike during landing at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800 carrying 174 people, including 4 cabin crew members.

Investigation Findings

The Air Accident Investigation Sector of the United Arab Emirates identified a breakdown in Crew Resource Management (CRM) as a contributing factor to the tail strike incident. According to the summary report issued last month, the commander assumed control at low altitude without standard Pilot Flying (PF) and Pilot Monitoring (PM) transfer of control callouts.

The investigation revealed multiple deficiencies in operational procedures:

• Poor coordination between flight crew members
• Inadequate execution of stabilised approach
• Deficient energy management during landing
• Improper bounce recovery techniques
• Breakdown in CRM application

Regulatory Recommendations

The UAE probe agency has issued specific recommendations for the DGCA to address the identified deficiencies. The investigation emphasised that regulatory oversight should ensure operators focus on critical landing procedures and crew coordination standards.

Key DGCA Recommendations:

• Review and enhance regulatory oversight mechanisms
• Ensure operators emphasise stabilised approach criteria
• Mandate precise energy management training during landing procedures
• Implement proper bounce recovery techniques in training and operational procedures

Airline-Specific Recommendations

The investigation has also directed Air India Express to strengthen its operational procedures and crew training protocols. The recommendations focus on reinforcing adherence to established safety standards and improving crew resource management.

Air India Express Action Items:

• Reinforce flight crew adherence to stabilised-approach criteria
• Strengthen energy management standards during landing operations
• Enhance bounce recognition and recovery training
• Establish mandatory go-around decision points
• Strengthen CRM training for standard PF/PM transfer protocols

The report noted that the breakdown in CRM contributed to inadequate flare inputs and inconsistent control actions, emphasising the need for consistent application of standard communication procedures during critical flight phases.

The UAE's aircraft accident investigation agency has identified significant crew resource management deficiencies in the Air India Express tail-strike incident that occurred at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport on April 22, 2025. The investigation findings highlight critical lapses in pilot coordination and communication protocols that contributed to the aviation incident.

Incident Details

The Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating flight IX331 from Calicut in Kerala suffered a tail strike while landing at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. The aircraft carried 174 people on board, including 4 cabin crew members. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the aircraft sustained only minor damage during the incident.

Investigation Findings

The Air Accident Investigation Sector of the United Arab Emirates issued its summary report last month, identifying a breakdown in Crew Resource Management (CRM) as a primary contributing factor. The investigation revealed that the commander assumed control at low altitude without following standard Pilot Flying (PF) and Pilot Monitoring (PM) transfer of control callouts.

According to the probe agency, this deviation from standard procedures resulted in poor coordination between crew members, which adversely affected the execution of a stabilized approach and appropriate flare maneuver during landing. The incident demonstrated multiple operational deficiencies including:

• Inadequate adherence to stabilized approach criteria
• Poor energy management during landing phase
• Insufficient bounce recovery techniques
• Breakdown in crew resource management protocols

Regulatory Recommendations

The UAE investigation has issued comprehensive recommendations targeting both regulatory oversight and airline operational procedures. The probe agency recommends that India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) review and enhance regulatory oversight to ensure operators emphasize critical safety protocols.

The investigation specifically calls for operators to focus on stabilized approach criteria, precise energy management during landing, and proper bounce recovery techniques in both training and operational procedures.

Air India Express Action Items

The investigation has directed Air India Express to implement specific improvements in crew training and operational procedures. The airline must reinforce adherence to stabilized-approach criteria and energy management standards during landing operations with flight crews.

Additionally, Air India Express should enhance training on bounce recognition and recovery procedures, including establishing mandatory go-around decision points. The investigation emphasizes strengthening CRM training to ensure standard PF/PM transfer of control callouts are consistently applied across all flight operations.

The breakdown in crew resource management contributed to inadequate flare inputs and inconsistent control actions during the critical landing phase. The investigation findings underscore the importance of maintaining strict adherence to established communication protocols and coordination procedures, particularly during high-workload phases of flight operations.