Air India Faces 9 Safety Notices in 6 Months
Air India has been served nine show-cause notices in the last six months for five different safety-related violations. This information was shared by Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, during a recent session of Parliament. The regulatory scrutiny comes amid broader concerns about flight safety standards in India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.
Inspections Reveal Minor Technical Issues
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted inspections of 31 out of 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft in Air India’s fleet. Minor issues were found in eight aircraft, all of which were corrected before being cleared for service. The remaining two planes were under scheduled maintenance and will be examined before returning to operations.
No Systemic Failures Detected
Despite the notices, the government has clarified that there is no indication of a widespread safety issue within Air India. Officials have stated that no adverse safety trends were observed in the airline’s overall operations. The enforcement action taken so far has been preventive, and the airline has responded with compliance measures.
Investigation Into Ahmedabad Crash Ongoing
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues its probe into the fatal crash of Flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad, which led to the death of 260 passengers and injuries to 81 others. While the crash has not been linked to systemic airline faults, all technical and operational factors are under investigation.
Manpower Gaps in Aviation Oversight
The Ministry also acknowledged that several aviation regulatory bodies including DGCA, BCAS, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are functioning with significant staffing shortages. Thousands of posts remain vacant, although authorities claim this has not impacted operational safety. Contractual hiring and fresh recruitment drives are underway to bridge the gap.
