Air India Fined Rs 1.1 Crore by DGCA for Safety Violations

Air India is in trouble again, this time with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) slapping a hefty fine of Rs 1.1 crore for breaking safety rules on certain long-range flights. Recently, IndiGo was also levied ₹1.20 crore fine as stranded passengers of airline’s diverted flights were seen eating on the tarmac of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia strongly reacted to the incident and said it was unacceptable.

Amidst these concerns, earlier this month, India faced widespread flight delays and cancellations due to dense fog. The CAT-III instrument landing system, crucial for flights in low visibility conditions (as low as 50 meters), became a central point of concern. Air India itself was fined Rs 30 lakh for not having a sufficient number of pilots trained for low-visibility landings during the fog season, resulting in disruptions across the country. This lapse in training highlighted the critical need for well-trained pilots, especially in adverse weather conditions.

The DGCA took action following a voluntary safety report from an Air India employee, highlighting safety lapses on critical long-range routes. 

“Pursuant to the receipt of a voluntary safety report from an airline employee alleging safety violations of flights operated by M/s Air India on certain long range terrain critical routes, DGCA conducted a comprehensive investigation into the alleged violations,” the regulator said in a statement.

“Since the investigation prima facie revealed non-compliance by the airline, a Show Cause Notice was issued to the Accountable Manager of Air India Limited. The response to the Show Cause Notice was duly examined with respect to the laid down stipulations under the relevant statutory provisions and the performance limits stipulated in critical documentations laid down by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM),” the DGCA statement read.

“Since the said operations of the leased aircraft were not in line with regulatory/OEM performance limits, DGCA has initiated enforcement action and imposed a penalty of Rs. 1.10 crore on M/s Air India,” the statement further read.

Air India has been under the regulatory microscope since 2023, with fines and suspensions becoming a pattern. In November of that year, a Rs 10 lakh penalty was imposed for failing to compensate passengers affected by flight delays and unserviceable seats. In September 2023, the airline’s training license was suspended, affecting simulators in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

In June 2023, two Air India pilots faced suspension – a captain for a year and a co-pilot for a month – for allowing an unauthorized person into the cockpit during a flight.

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