Anoushka Shankar’s Sitar Damaged on Air India Flight
On 3–4 December 2025, internationally renowned sitarist Anoushka Shankar publicly revealed that her sitar had been “severely damaged” during a recent flight with Air India. In a video posted on Instagram, she shows a deep crack running across the lower, rounded end of the instrument — the part known as the tumba.
Shankar said this was her first flight with Air India in many years, and — despite transporting the instrument in her usual hard protective case and paying a special handling fee — this was “the first time anything like this has happened to my instrument in 15 or 17 years.” Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Her reaction was deeply emotional. She wrote:
“Devastated and truly disturbed by @airindia’s treatment of my sitar. How on earth does damage like this happen without willful disregard?” She also questioned how “even an Indian instrument” — one that embodies centuries of cultural heritage — could be mishandled by what is arguably India’s flagship airline.
The fallout: outrage, concern, and demands for accountability
The video triggered an immediate public outcry. Fans, fellow musicians, and cultural commentators expressed solidarity, calling the damage heartbreaking and calling for better care for musical instruments during airline transit.
Many pointed out that classical instruments are not just expensive or collectible items — they are delicate, handcrafted carriers of cultural and emotional weight, which cannot simply be replaced.
Given that Shankar paid for “special handling” and used a hard case, critics have asked: Where did the system fail? Was it negligence, disregard, or a systemic failure in how airlines handle musical instruments and other delicate luggage?
The airline responds — investigation underway
In response to the public backlash, Air India issued a statement acknowledging the incident and saying it had initiated an investigation. The airline said it was reviewing CCTV footage at the relevant airport (Delhi) and would attempt to determine where and how the damage occurred.
However, the airline also noted that transporting large, fragile instruments involves multiple stakeholders — and at this point they “cannot yet ascertain the cause of the damage.”
At the time of her post, Shankar observed the damage soon after arrival, which suggests the damage happened either during loading/unloading or ground handling — not during her time on board.
Why this matters — more than just a broken instrument
The incident strikes a chord well beyond one musician’s misfortune:
Cultural loss: Instruments like the sitar are not just tools for music — they carry tradition, years of personal history, and the soul of classical art. For a sitting international artist like Anoushka Shankar, a damaged instrument is akin to a part of identity being broken.
Precedent for artists: Touring musicians often travel with fragile, expensive instruments. This case brings to the fore the risks musicians face when transporting such instruments by air, especially with airlines and baggage-handling systems that may not prioritise delicate gear.
Accountability & policy: The fact that the damage happened despite a paid “handling fee” raises serious questions on the accountability of airlines and ground-handling services. If things go unaddressed, many artists may think twice before choosing to fly with expensive instruments — or shift to alternate modes.
Public awareness & demand for better treatment: The strong public reaction may pressure airlines to enforce stricter protocols for fragile baggage, from booking to boarding — especially for internationally touring artists, heritage instrument owners, and others transporting delicate belongings.
What’s next — clarity, compensation, and caution
As of now, Air India says it’s reviewing footage and investigating, but has not yet provided a timeline or committed to a public resolution.
The questions remain: Will the airline accept liability? Will there be compensation — either monetary or replacement or repair of the sitar? And will this incident trigger stricter baggage-handling norms for sensitive instruments across airlines?
For musicians — and all frequent travellers with fragile, priceless belongings — this incident serves as a painful but necessary wake-up call.