5 Tragic Ironies Of Captain Deepak Sathe: The Decorated Air India Pilot Blamed For The Kozhikode Crash

The tragic story of Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe, the pilot-in-command of Air India Express Flight 1344, remains one of the most complex and heartbreaking chapters in modern aviation history. On August 7, 2020, the Boeing 737-800 he was piloting from Dubai skidded off the tabletop runway at Kozhikode-Calicut International Airport (CCJ) in Kerala, plunging into a gorge and breaking into pieces.

As of late 2025, the final investigation report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has provided the definitive, yet controversial, conclusion: the accident was primarily caused by the pilots' non-adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs). This finding stands in stark contrast to the initial public narrative that hailed the former Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran as a hero. This article delves into the life of the decorated pilot and the final, devastating findings that forever changed his legacy.

Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe: Biography and Professional Profile

• Full Name: Wing Commander Deepak Vasant Sathe (Retd.)
• Date of Birth: April 24, 1961
• Date of Death: August 7, 2020 (Aged 59)
• Role on Flight AXB 1344: Pilot-in-Command (PIC) / Captain
• Co-Pilot: First Officer Akhilesh Kumar
• Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-800 (Registration: VT-AXH)
• Military Background: Former Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Previous Roles: Decorated pilot; served as a test pilot for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• Aviation Experience: Highly experienced, with over 10,000 flying hours in total, including extensive experience flying into Kozhikode and other challenging tabletop runways.
• Notable History: He had previously survived an air crash in the 1990s while serving in the IAF, only to return to flying after recovering from serious injuries.
• Career at Air India Express: Joined the airline in 2013.

The Deadly Sequence of Events on Air India Express Flight 1344

The accident involving Air India Express Flight AXB 1344, a scheduled international flight from Dubai to Kozhikode, was a repatriation Vande Bharat Mission flight carrying 184 passengers and six crew members. The conditions at Kozhikode International Airport on the evening of August 7, 2020, were extremely challenging: heavy rain and a strong tailwind.

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The Kozhikode airport is notorious for its "tabletop runway," a strip of land situated on a plateau or hill with steep drops at both ends. Such runways require impeccable precision, especially during poor weather. The investigation revealed a critical sequence of events:

• Two Go-Arounds: Captain Sathe and First Officer Akhilesh Kumar attempted to land twice on Runway 28, but due to poor visibility and excessive tailwind, they performed a 'go-around' both times.
• The Third Attempt (Runway 10): The pilots then switched to Runway 10, deciding to land with a significant tailwind component, which is against safety procedures in wet conditions.
• Late Touchdown: The aircraft touched down far too late on the 2,860-meter runway, approximately 1,000 meters past the designated touchdown zone.
• The Excursion: With insufficient runway remaining to stop the Boeing 737-800, the aircraft overran the end of the strip, skidded off the tabletop, and plunged 30-35 feet into a gorge, where it broke into four major pieces.

The Shocking Final Verdict: Pilot Error and SOP Violations

Despite Captain Sathe's heroic background and initial reports suggesting a sudden emergency, the definitive investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) concluded that the primary cause of the accident was human error. The final report, a crucial document for aviation safety, pointed directly to the actions of the pilot-in-command.

The AAIB's findings were clear: the crash occurred due to "non-adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs)" by Captain Sathe. Specifically, the decision to continue the approach and land on Runway 10 despite the un-stabilised approach conditions, excessive tailwind, and heavy rain was a critical violation. The co-pilot, First Officer Akhilesh Kumar, was also cited for failing to adequately monitor and call out the deviations from the SOPs, a fundamental aspect of Crew Resource Management (CRM).

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This conclusion was a devastating blow to the legacy of a man widely respected in the aviation community. The report essentially argued that the pilots, particularly Captain Sathe, failed to execute a mandatory 'go-around' for the third time when the landing conditions were clearly unsafe, a decision that sealed the fate of the flight.

Beyond the Cockpit: Systemic Failures and Safety Recommendations

While the pilots' actions were identified as the immediate cause, the AAIB report did not stop there. It highlighted significant systemic safety deficiencies within the airline and the regulatory body, providing a broader context for the tragedy. This aspect of the report is essential for understanding the full picture of the Air India Express disaster.

In total, the AAIB issued an unprecedented 43 safety recommendations to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India Express. These recommendations were aimed at preventing future accidents, particularly at challenging locations like tabletop runways. Key areas of focus included:

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• Runway End Safety Area (RESA): The report reiterated the need to extend the RESA at Kozhikode and other tabletop airports, noting that previous recommendations following the 2010 Mangalore crash had not been fully implemented.
• Training and Surveillance: Recommendations were made for increased and periodic surveillance of flights to critical and tabletop runways, especially for 'red eye' flights (late-night operations).
• Crew Resource Management (CRM): A major focus was placed on improving CRM training to ensure co-pilots are empowered and trained to intervene effectively when the Captain deviates from SOPs, a clear response to the co-pilot's role in the AXB 1344 accident.
• Risk Assessment: The need for improved risk assessment procedures for landing in adverse weather conditions, particularly with a tailwind component on wet runways, was heavily emphasized.

The crash of Air India Express Flight 1344, while tragically caused by pilot error, ultimately served as a catalyst for a massive overhaul of safety protocols for India's most challenging airports. The memory of Captain Sathe and First Officer Kumar, who both perished in the crash, is now inextricably linked to the 43 safety recommendations intended to save hundreds of lives in the future.