Government Issues Safety Notices to Air India

In a recent disclosure to the Rajya Sabha, the Civil Aviation Ministry revealed that Air India has been issued nine show cause notices over the past six months due to five identified safety violations. This information was shared in response to a series of questions from Members of Parliament. The Ministry also confirmed that enforcement action has been completed for one of these violations.

Minister Addresses Safety Concerns

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, assured that no adverse trends have been reported in Air India’s reliability reports concerning crashes over the last six months. However, he acknowledged the issuance of nine notices related to safety violations. In response to queries from CPM member John Brittas, Minister Mohol did not provide specific details about the violations but confirmed that enforcement action had been taken for one incident.

Impact of Recent Boeing Dreamliner Crash

Air India has been under scrutiny following a tragic Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad last month, which resulted in 260 fatalities and 81 injuries. Of the 241 passengers on board the flight from Ahmedabad to London, only one survived. The crash also caused casualties on the ground as the aircraft collided with a medical college hostel.

DGCA Orders Fleet Inspections

In light of the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787-8/9 fleet. Out of 33 aircraft, 31 have been inspected, revealing minor issues in eight planes, which were rectified before returning to service. Two aircraft remain under scheduled maintenance.

Investigation into Crash Causes

Responding to DMK leader Kanimozhi’s inquiry about potential sabotage, Minister Mohol stated that authorities are exploring all possibilities to determine the cause of the Ahmedabad crash. The DGCA has conducted 254 enforcement actions this year, compared to 673 last year and 542 in 2023. These actions can include warnings, suspensions, cancellations, and financial penalties.