It also noted that Air India had failed to submit timely compliance responses.
New Delhi: India’s national carrier Air India is facing mounting scrutiny after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reportedly flagged multiple safety violations, days after a deadly crash involving one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft killed 241 people and left dozens injured on the ground.
According to internal government documents accessed by Reuters, the aviation regulator warned Air India last month for operating at least three Airbus aircraft without completing mandatory inspections of critical emergency systems, including escape slides. These inspections are vital to ensure passenger safety in the event of an emergency evacuation.
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The DGCA report highlights that in one alarming case, an Airbus A320 operated on international routes, including to Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah, despite a delay of over a month in conducting required checks on its emergency equipment. Another Airbus A319, used on domestic routes, had its inspection delayed by over three months. A third aircraft operated with a two-day delay.
“The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements,” the DGCA stated in its report. It also noted that Air India had failed to submit timely compliance responses, suggesting “weak procedural control and oversight.”
The revelations come after the tragic crash of Air India’s flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, during takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Only one person survived the crash that claimed 241 lives onboard and at least 28 on the ground, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
Air India’s CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson has maintained that the ill-fated aircraft was “well-maintained” and had undergone a major maintenance check in June 2023, with the next scheduled for December 2025. Nonetheless, the DGCA has now ordered enhanced surveillance of Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet.
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In the aftermath of the crash and amid intensified regulatory scrutiny, Air India on Friday cancelled several international and domestic flights, citing “enhanced maintenance and operational reasons.”
A multi-disciplinary team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a probe into the crash. The final report is expected to play an important role in determining liability and shaping future aviation safety protocols in the country.
