Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
Here’s a roundup of the biggest headlines from India on Wednesday, August 12:
- Chennai airport declared a full emergency after an IndiGo flight suffered an engine failure
- The pilot of an Air India flight that suddenly lost altitude last week tested positive for marijuana
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Skip next section Food safety, hygiene issues plague India’s quick commerce firms08/12/2026August 12, 2026
Food safety, hygiene issues plague India’s quick commerce firms
India’s quick commerce sector, especially grocery delivery services, is in the doldrums as authorities flag serious food safety and hygiene violations.
Authorities in the southern Karnataka and western Maharashtra states sealed a Zepto warehouse on Tuesday and suspended the license of a Blinkit facility after inspections found serious violations, reports said.
In Karnataka, a Zepto warehouse near Bengaluru was sealed by the food safety department after finding unhygienic food handling and storage conditions, improper labelling and misbranding.
Zepto said in a statement that it had cooperated with officials and was taking steps to address their observations, the Hindustan Times reported, adding that it remained committed to food safety and hygiene standards.
In Mumbai, authorities suspended the license of a Blinkit facility after finding a large-scale cockroach infestation, improperly stored food and expired or tampered products.
Food was also found on rusted racks, while cold-storage areas lacked adequate cleanliness.
The facility has been barred from selling or distributing food or conducting any food business during the license suspension, authorities said.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5Ifa7Skip next section Air India pilot tests positive in drug testPublished 08/12/2026Published August 12, 2026last updated 08/12/2026last updated August 12, 2026
Air India pilot tests positive in drug test
The captain of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that suddenly lost altitude last week tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test.
The Airbus A320neo, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost about 300 feet of over Odisha before landing safely in Delhi.
The plane stabilized and landed safely. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has classified the incident as serious.
The incident had left 13 passengers and four crew members injured, and led to India’s aviation ministry summoning Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Tuesday.
https://p.dw.com/p/5IfLHSkip next section Emergency at Chennai airport after IndiGo plane suffers engine failurePublished 08/12/2026Published August 12, 2026last updated 08/12/2026last updated August 12, 2026
Emergency at Chennai airport after IndiGo plane suffers engine failure
Late on Tuesday night, Chennai airport declared a full emergency after an IndiGo flight suffered an engine failure, media reports said.
This came only a few hours after reports emerged that the captain of an Air India flight that suddenly lost altitude last week, injuring crew and passengers, tested positive in a drug test, further plunging India’s aviation into turmoil.
On Tuesday, the pilot of an IndiGo plane, flying from Kolkata to Chennai with 224 people on board, noticed that the left engine had failed while the plane prepared to land, reports said Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials.
Airport authorities activated emergency response measures, which remained in place till the plane landed safely. The declaration of full emergency was withdrawn soon after.
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https://p.dw.com/p/5IfEeSkip next section Welcome to our coveragePublished 08/12/2026Published August 12, 2026last updated 08/12/2026last updated August 12, 2026
Welcome to our coverage
Shakeel Sobhan | Rob Turner Editor
Hello! This is Shakeel from DW’s New Delhi Studio bringing you the latest updates from across India.
The turbulence in Indian aviation continues, as Chennai airport declared a full emergency on Tuesday after an IndiGo flight suffered an engine failure. This comes on the heels of reports that the captain of an Air India flight that suddenly lost altitude last week, injuring crew and passengers, has tested positive in a drug test.
Meanwhile, quick-commerce firms Zepto and Blinkit are under the scanner over “serious food safety and hygiene violations.” Your deliveries may still arrive within minutes, but in what condition? That’s the question.
For all this and more, stay tuned to our blog.
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