- Civil aviation watchdog DGCA inspected 31 Boeing 787 aircraft and had minor findings in eight, all rectified
- One enforcement action has been completed regarding these safety violations
- No adverse trends in Air India’s crash reliability were reported in the last six months
Nine show cause notices have been issued to Air India in connection with five identified safety violations in the last six months, the Civil Aviation ministry informed Rajya Sabha today in response to a series of queries from MPs. Also, enforcement action has been completed with respect to one violation, the ministry said.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said over the last six months, no adverse trend was reported in reliability reports of Air India in terms of crash. But over the last six months, nine show cause notices have been issued to Air India in connection with five identified safety violations.
"Enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation," the minister said in response to queries from CPM member John Brittas, but did not reveal specific details.
Air India had come under spotlight after last month's Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad in which 260 people had died and 81 people were injured. Of the 241 people on board the Ahmedabad to London plane, only one man had survived. The rest of the casualties took place on ground as the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel.
Soon after, civil aviation watchdog DGCA had ordered checks on the Air India fleet of Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft.
"Of the total 33 aircraft, 31 operational aircraft have been inspected wherein minor findings were observed in 8 aircraft. These were released for operation post rectification. The remaining 2 aircraft are under scheduled maintenance," read a written reply from Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu in response to a question from BJP member Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan.
Mr Mohol, in another written reply in response to a query by DMK leader Kanimozhi who had asked about the possibility of sabotage, said the authorities are looking into every angle to pin down the cause of the Ahmedabad crash.
The DGCA or Director General of Civil Aviation has done 254 enforcement actions till April this year. Last year, there were 673 actions and 542 in 2023, the minister said. Enforcement action may include warning, suspension, cancellation and imposition of financial penalty.
(With PTI)
