DGCA Imposes Rs 90 Lakh Fine On Air India For Operating Flight With Non-Qualified Pilots

Air India Fined: The DGCA's release states that the pilot involved in the incident has been formally cautioned and instructed to be more vigilant in the future to avoid similar lapses.

Air India Fined: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulatory body, has imposed a penalty of Rs 90 lakh against Air India, owned by the Tata Group. This fine was imposed because the airline was operating a flight with pilots who were non-qualified for their roles. 

In addition to the hefty fine, the DGCA has also penalised two senior officials within Air India for this security lapse. The Director of Operations, Pankul Mathur, has been fined Rs 6 lakh, while the Director of Training, Manish Vasavada, has been slapped with a Rs 3 lakh fine. 

The DGCA's release states that the pilot involved in the incident has been formally cautioned and instructed to be more vigilant in the future to avoid similar lapses.

"Air India Ltd operated a flight commanded by a non-trainer line captain paired with a non-line-released first officer which has been viewed by the regulator as a serious scheduling incident having significant safety ramifications," the release noted.

The DGCA's investigation began after the incident was brought to its attention through a voluntary report submitted by the airline on July 10. The regulator conducted a thorough examination of the airline's operations, including a review of relevant documentation and a spot check of the scheduling facility.

"Based on investigation, it was prima facie revealed that there are deficiencies and multiple violations of the regulatory provisions by several post holders and staff, which could significantly affect safety," the release states.

The DGCA also noted that the flight's commander, along with other key officials at the airline, were given a chance to clarify their positions through show cause notices issued on July 22. These notices required the individuals to provide explanations regarding the incident.

However, the responses submitted by the concerned parties did not offer satisfactory justifications for the lapses. Consequently, the DGCA has proceeded with enforcement action under the current rules and regulations. This has led to penalties being imposed on the airline and its officials, the regulator noted in its statement.