Air India Faces Regulatory Warning for Breaching Safety Protocols

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has raised alarms regarding Air India due to the airline operating three Airbus planes that had not undergone mandatory safety checks on critical emergency equipment, specifically escape slides. Documentation reviewed by Reuters revealed that these warning notices were issued prior to a separate incident involving an Air India Boeing plane crash, which claimed nearly all lives aboard.

In May, spot checks by the DGCA uncovered that certain Airbus jets had overdue inspections. Notably, an Airbus A320's inspection was delayed for over a month and continued to operate on international routes, including flights to Dubai and Riyadh. Similarly, an Airbus A319 faced a delay exceeding three months for required checks, while another plane was two days late for its inspection.

The investigation indicated that Air India did not provide timely responses to the DGCA regarding identified deficiencies, suggesting a lack of robust procedural control and oversight within the company. In a statement, Air India acknowledged the issues and indicated it was expediting a review of all maintenance records tied to the escape slides.

A former legal expert with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau emphasized the importance of escape slides, warning that failures in this equipment during emergencies could lead to severe injuries. The DGCA has temporarily suspended the airworthiness certificates for aircraft that did not complete their mandatory checks.

The warning notices stemmed from only one of the many safety violations in recent times; a regulatory lawyer noted that breaches often result in fines and penalties for the airline and its executives. The Indian aviation sector has witnessed a series of fines for various violations over the past year, with Air India facing considerable scrutiny.

Following the unfortunate accident, which is still under investigation, Air India's leadership has called for a reassessment of safety measures and improvements within the airline, after facing public criticism regarding its service quality. The DGCA's findings highlighted systemic failures in Air India's internal procedures, which are compounded by outdated paperwork for some aircraft. The airline defended its compliance, stating that the majority of its fleet met regulatory requirements and insisted that the situation did not compromise safety.