Air India in trouble again as DGCA suspends chief of flight safety

Air India has been dealt a significant setback, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspending their chief of flight safety for one month due to inadequate safety inspections aimed at preventing air accidents.

What happened?

The Chief of Flight Safety at Air India has faced a one-month suspension imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following a surveillance operation conducted on July 25th and 26th, 2023.

This action has been taken as a result of the DGCA's assessment of Air India's internal audit, accident prevention initiatives, and the availability of essential technical expertise.

The investigative  body later added, "...found deficiencies in the accident prevention work carried out by the organisation and the availability of the requisite technical manpower as required in the approved Flight Safety Manual and the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements..."

The regulatory body has also issued a show-cause notice to Air India in response to the investigation's findings, which revealed deficiencies in the company's accident prevention efforts.

Not a first for Air India

Many had anticipated that Air India would embark on a new chapter after the Tata Group acquired sole ownership of the airline. However, this decision by the DGCA adds to an already extensive list of grievances.

This is not the first instance in which Air India has faced reprimands for non-compliance with regulations:

• Previously, the DGCA had directed Air India to cease its activities related to pilot training facilities in Mumbai and Hyderabad, but Air India proceeded with its operations.

• Air India had also faced allegations of purportedly falsifying spot-check reports over an extended period.