DGCA issues show-cause to Air India for operating flights despite safety lapses
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New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator has issued a show-cause notice to Air India cockpit crew for operating multiple flights between Delhi and Tokyo despite being aware of safety and compliance lapses. The crew has been asked to respond within two weeks.
The notice, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), pertains to flight AI-357 from Delhi to Tokyo and AI-358 on the return leg from Tokyo to Delhi. According to the DGCA, “The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) applicable to the aircraft was incompatible.”
Air India had not yet responded to the notice. The regulator stated that this was not an isolated incident, noting that similar issues had been detected in other sectors in the past. The pilots have been asked to explain why action should not be initiated against them under the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).
The DGCA’s action comes after reports that Air India operated a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner despite repetitive technical snags.
Last month, the regulator initiated a probe following an engine shutdown on Air India’s Delhi-Mumbai flight. The Mumbai-bound B777-300ER aircraft returned to Delhi shortly after take-off due to a technical issue and landed safely.
“The AIC 887 (Delhi-Mumbai) was involved in an Airturnback, as during flap retraction after take-off, the flight crew observed low engine oil pressure on Engine No. 2 (Right-Hand engine),” the DGCA said.
Soon after take-off, the engine oil pressure dropped to zero. Following standard procedures, the crew shut down the No. 2 engine, and the aircraft landed safely at Delhi. The DGCA noted that “inspection/rectification is in progress.”
The incident will be investigated by the Permanent Investigation Board of the Airline under the supervision of Director Air Safety (NR), DGCA, it added.
With IANS inputs