DGCA Slaps Rs 90 Lakh Fine on Air India for Operating Flight with Unqualified Crew Members
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd August. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 90 lakh on Air India for operating a flight with non-qualified crew members. The aviation regulator took the action after discovering that the airline allowed a flight to be commanded by a non-trainer line captain paired with a non-line-released first officer, which the DGCA described as a serious safety violation.
In addition to the fine on the airline, the DGCA has also penalized Air India’s Director of Operations and Director of Training with fines of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively, for their role in the lapse. The pilot involved in the incident has been warned to exercise greater caution in the future to prevent similar occurrences.
The incident came to light through a voluntary report submitted by Air India on July 10, prompting the DGCA to launch an investigation. The regulator conducted a detailed review of the airline’s documentation and performed spot checks at its scheduling facility, uncovering significant deficiencies and multiple regulatory violations that could have impacted flight safety.
Following the investigation, the DGCA issued show-cause notices to the airline on July 22. However, the explanations provided by the flight commander and DGCA-approved post holders at Air India were found unsatisfactory by the regulator, leading to the imposition of the fines.
This is not the first time Air India has been penalized by the DGCA. Earlier this year, the airline was fined Rs 80 lakh for violations related to flight duty time limitations. The carrier was also issued a show-cause notice following incidents of insufficient cabin cooling on two separate flights during delays, with the regulator criticizing the airline’s repeated failure to address passenger needs.
The latest penalties underscore the DGCA’s strict stance on ensuring compliance with safety regulations within India’s aviation sector.
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