DGCA suspends 2 Indigo pilots for 3 months over runway incursion

Indian aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has suspended two Indigo pilots commanding the Delhi-Udaipur flight over runaway incursion at the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Captain Rahul Dhar and First Officer, Captain Amit Kumar of Indigo flight IG0 – 2746 have been suspended for 3 months by the DGCA for putting passenger safety at risk by failing to be vigilant while taxiing on the runaway. 

The suspension letter that has been addressed to both the pilots by the DGCA states that the IGO-2746 breached the runway holding point. The crew did not follow the "hold at holding point RWY10" instruction from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) and reached near the active runway, while landing the IGO 6683, the aircraft had already crossed the threshold of active runaway 10. The investigation by DGCA further revealed how the crew had violated the taxi markings. 

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DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to both the pilots on 5th September asking them to file a reply within 15 days. In reply to which, the First officer captain Amit Kumar has accepted the grave mistake and has replied saying that it happened due to the head down activity during the critical moment.

DGCA dismisses explanation

DGCA dismissed the given explanation and clamped down upon the two pilots. A few days ago, DGCA also took stringent action against two Spicejet pilots by suspending their licenses for four months. The Spicejet pilots were involved in an air turn back incident due to pressurisation failure on Hyderabad-Jaipur flight on June 14. The Aircraft VT-SLH, a B737-800, operated as flight SG 341 from Hyderabad to Jaipur.

After a thorough examination, DGCA found out that the crew forgot to put the bleed switch on during cockpit preparation, departure briefing and after takeoff checklist which resulted in pressurisation failure during the climb "The above action of the crew jeopardised the safety of the aircraft and its occupants," DGCA noted.

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