New Delhi : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a substantial fine of ₹90 lakh on Air India, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, for operating a flight with unqualified pilots. This penalty follows an investigation into serious safety violations and regulatory breaches by the airline.
In addition to the fine on Air India, the DGCA has also fined the airline’s Director of Operations, Pankul Mathur, ₹6 lakh, and the Director of Training, Manish Vasavada, ₹3 lakh. The fines are a result of their involvement in the regulatory lapses that led to the incident.
The DGCA’s investigation uncovered that the flight in question was commanded by a non-trainer line captain paired with a non-line-released first officer. This scheduling error was deemed a significant safety risk by the aviation regulator. The DGCA has warned the involved pilot to exercise greater caution to prevent future occurrences.
The DGCA’s scrutiny began after Air India voluntarily reported the incident on July 10. The regulator conducted a thorough investigation, including a review of documentation and a spot check of the scheduling facility. The investigation revealed multiple deficiencies and regulatory violations that could have severely impacted flight safety.
The DGCA issued show cause notices on July 22 to the flight’s commander and other airline officials, seeking explanations for the lapses. The responses received were deemed unsatisfactory, leading to the imposition of penalties under existing rules and regulations.
In its release, the DGCA highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that the violations had serious safety ramifications. The fine imposed reflects the regulator’s commitment to enforcing aviation safety standards and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.