What to Read in The Hindu Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: ​The rot starts at the top of the aviation ladder

Context

The Ahmedabad air crash is a wake-up call for aviation officials and airlines to ensure strict training and safe operations.

Introduction

A version of Murphy’s Law states that “if several things can go wrong, the one causing the most damage will.” The tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, just after take-off for London Gatwick, is a harsh wake-up call—one that has echoed for years. Yet, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), the judiciary, and airlines have consistently ignored the urgent need for stringent training and robust safety standards. Boasts about India being the fastest-growing aviation market ring hollow amid persistent corruption, political interference, and a disturbing lack of accountability. Beyond blaming pilots, no higher-level responsibility has ever been fixed—exposing deep systemic rot at the top of India’s aviation structure.

Downward slide

Incident/Issue	Details & Observations
Pattern of Major Crashes	From IC605 (Bangalore, 1990) to IX1344 (Kozhikode, 2020) and now AI171 (Ahmedabad, 2025), India has seen repeated aviation disasters due to systemic issues.
Complacency	Each crash is followed by a brief reaction, then a return to status quo, with no long-term reforms in training or safety oversight.
Persistent Leadership	The same officials remain in power despite repeated failures. Safety standards and training protocols continue to decline.
Lack of Accountability	Responsibility is routinely deflected to pilots, while top-level officials, including in MoCA, DGCA, and AAI, remain untouched.
Union Minister’s Role	Post-crash statements always defend safety standards, even amid clear ICAO violations.
Investigator Selection	Crash investigators are often chosen based on their willingness to follow the official narrative and blame crew members.
Violation of ICAO Norms	In the Ahmedabad crash, the DGCA named pilots publicly — a direct breach of ICAO protocol, which prohibits this even in final reports.
Leadership in DGCA/AAI	Calls for professional aviation experts to head key bodies like DGCA and AAI, instead of bureaucrats or publicity-seekers.
Judiciary’s Weak Response	India’s judicial system in aviation matters is one of the weakest globally. Even after Mangaluru, a PIL with strong evidence was dismissed without hearing.
Systemic Rot	Handing PILs back to MoCA for validation shows deep-rooted institutional bias and reluctance to question the system.
Loss of Lives	Over 300 lives lost in Ahmedabad alone, including passengers and locals — yet no shake-up in the system.
Global Comparison	Even the Pakistan Supreme Court has shown more resolve in holding its aviation authorities accountable than Indian institutions.

Ahmedabad Accident: Preliminary Analysis

Sources of Initial Information

• Primary evidencecurrently comes from:
  • Social media video recordings
  • CCTV footage at Ahmedabad airport
• CCTV observationsinclude:
  • Aircraft’s take-off sequence
  • Vegetation around the runway area

Aircraft Configuration and Take-Off Speculations

Aspect	Observation
Aircraft Model	Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Flap Configuration Concern	Speculative claims about improper flap settings
Counterpoint	Modern Boeing aircraft have built-in take-off configuration warning systems; pilots cannot proceed without correct settings
Runway Usage	Flight took off using the full runway length, not from an intersection (as speculated)

Runway Environment & Bird Risk

• CCTV shows:
  • Significant grass growth along runway edges
• Seasonal Context:
  • Southwest monsoon onset
  • Regulatory Requirement: Grass must be cut below 3 inches beforemonsoon to prevent insect and bird activity
• Historical Risk:
  • Ahmedabad airport has a known bird menace history

Take-Off and Suspected Mid-Air Issues

Sequence of Events (As Per Video and Survivor Accounts)

Time/Event	Details
Initial Acceleration	Appeared normal
30 Seconds Post Lift-Off	Loud thud reported (per survivor and video interview)
Possible Causes	Bird ingestion causing compressor stall
Climb Profile	Shallow climb, high nose-up attitude, followed by slow descent
Visual Indicators	Aircraft’s nose high but losing altitude—indicative of aerodynamic stall

Suspected Causes of Engine Power Loss

1. Bird Ingestion

• Birds may have been attracted by insects in overgrown grass
• Bird strike likely caused partial thrust lossin both engines

2. Foreign Object Damage (FOD)

• Possibility of FOD on the runway similar to Air France Concorde Crash (AF4590, 2000):
  • Metal strip punctured tyre
  • Fragments hit fuel tank, causing fire and crash

3. Landing Gear Anomaly

• Key visual anomaly: Landing gear remained extendedthroughout the climb
• Possible reasons:
  • Crew overwhelmed by simultaneous bird strike and engine issues
  • Failure to retract gear led to increased dragand compromised climb

Operational and Training Considerations

• DGCA statement reveals:
  • Captain was a Line Training Captain
  • Raises question: Was this a training flight?
• If trainee was at controls:
  • Control transition during crisis
  • Combined with partial thrust loss, may have led to gear oversight and failure to recover

Awaited Investigation Results

Black Box Components	Expected Insights
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)	Pilot conversation, alarms, crew response
Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR)	Thrust levels, flap/gear position, engine status

Conclusion

With global aviation authorities such as the National Transportation Safety Board (USA) and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (UK) now involved in the crash investigation, it becomes imperative for Indian officials to also examine potential obstructions in the aircraft’s take-off funnel. The aircraft reportedly collided with a multi-storied building (ground plus five floors), raising serious concerns about the presence of a 70-foot structure so close to the flight path. This incident should prompt a thorough inquiry into how such construction was permitted in a critical aviation zone. It also serves as a stark warning to Indian authorities against granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs)for construction near airports under political pressure. The larger and more pressing issue remains: will we learn from this tragedy or allow similar lapses to continue unchecked?

 

Editorial 2: The endgame of a 2,611-year-old Jewish-Persian enmity

Context

Israel’s actions against Iran were mainly aimed at destroying Iran’s important military assets, but they could lead to unexpected effects in the region and even outside it.

Introduction

Despite their deep hatred for each other, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, who heads the country’s most right-wing government ever, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei agreed on one thing yesterday: the huge importance of the full-scale conflict between their nations. While Netanyahu described it as “a decisive momentin Israel’s history“, Khamenei strongly declared: “**With this act, the Zionist regime has brought upon itself a bitter and painful future.”

Operation “Rising Lion”: A Historical Inflection Point

• On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation “Rising Lion”targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.
• The operation may represent a critical turning pointin the long-standing Jewish–Persian rivalry, dating back to 586 BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the First Jewish Temple.
• This comes after nearly 21 monthsof Israeli confrontation with Iran and its regional proxies.

Nature and Scale of the Offensive

• Israel employed its trademark short, high-intensity blitzkriegdriven by advanced technology and real-time intelligence.
• Strikes were launched against:
  • Nuclear facilities
  • Missile systems
  • Key leadership and scientists

Key Operational Details

Element	Details
Aircraft Deployed	Over 200 fighter jets
Targets Attacked	More than 100 strategic sites
High-Profile Eliminations	Commanders of the IRGC, armed forces, emergency leadership, and six nuclear scientists

Strategic Preludes by Israel

• Since October 7, 2023, Israel has:
  • Systematically degraded Iranian proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis
  • Overthrown the Assad regimein Syria, enabling a Sunni Islamist replacement
  • Conducted targeted assassinationsof Iranian figures
  • Provoked and then neutralized Iranian missile retaliation
  • Developed superior defence and attack systems, including:
    • Laser-based interception
    • Bunker-buster bombs
    • Deep-penetration strike capabilities

Involvement of the United States and Allies

Though publicly neutral, the United States appears to have provided indirect support through diplomatic, economic, and covert channels.

Diplomatic and Economic Measures

• Under Trump’s first term (2018): Withdrawal from the JCPOAand imposition of a “maximum pressure” policy
• Under Trump 2.0 (2025):
  • Intensified sanctions
  • Froze Iranian assets abroad
  • Pressured Saudi Arabiato end OPEC+ supply limits, causing a 20% drop in oil prices
  • Weakened Iran’s oil revenue through deliberate supply-side flooding
• Military and Legal Support
  • S. and allies bombed Houthisto reopen the Bab al-Mandeb maritime chokepoint
  • IAEA censure (June 12, 2025)initiated by the S. and European powers, condemning Iran’s nuclear activities and potentially legitimizing Israel’s strike
• Geopolitical Realignment
  • Sudden S. overtures to Pakistansuggest possible strategic use of:
    • Pakistan’s border with Iran
    • Pakistani military’s alignmentwith Gulf Arab states for tactical advantages

Arab World’s Uneasy Response

• The Sunni Arab stateshave mixed feelings about the Israeli strike on Iran.
• While they distrust both Iran and Israel, they fear retaliationfrom Iran or its proxies.
• Possible threatsinclude:
  • Disruption of oil flowthrough the Strait of Hormuz (vital for 20% of global oil)
  • Covert attackson strategic targets
  • Shia unrestwithin Sunni-majority regimes
• This instability could allow terror groupslike ISIS and al-Qaeda to re-emerge.

Scope and Risks of Israeli Operations

• Israel claims its operations are limitedto neutralizing Iran’s strategic assets.
• Observers warn of unforeseen consequences, depending on:
  • Whether Israel can achieve its aims surgically, avoiding collateral damage
  • Whether radioactive falloutor civilian harm occurs

Iran’s Possible Resilience and Fallout

• There is a real chanceIran could withstand the attack, undermining Israel’s goal of a quick, decisive strike.
• A prolonged war could:
  • Rally Iranian public opinionbehind the regime
  • Turn Israel’s move into a geopolitical burden, especially in the Global South
  • Escalate regional unrestand economic instability

Global Economic Repercussions

• A long conflictwould worsen existing problems like:
  • Rising oil prices
  • Inflation
  • Slower global growth
  • Supply chain disruptions
  • Financial market volatility
• It could also discredit Donald Trump’sclaims of ending “endless wars”.

Unpredictable Conflict Trajectory

• Wars often defy expectations.
• Israel hopes to cripple Iran quickly, as the U.S. did with Iraq in 1991.
• But if Iran is badly hit yet defiant, it may:
  • Expand the conflict
  • Target U.S. alliesin the region
  • Potentially draw in the U.S. military
  • Trigger regime change effortsor a dramatic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics

Conclusion

India has a lot at stake in the ongoing conflict — including the safety of around nine million Indians living in the region, almost half of its foreign remittances, oil supplies, and a large share of exports and investments. India is desperately hoping for a quick and clear end to the fighting and a return to peace in the region. Looking back, Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology has come at a huge cost for a country already rich in oil and gas. Some estimates suggest that Iran spent up to $100 billion chasing this nuclear dream, believing it would protect its national security. But with the current situation, many may now ask whether this risky strategy actually made things worse instead.