9 Show Cause Notices Issued To Air India In Last 6 Months For Safety Violations, Says Ministry

New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday revealed that Air India has received nine show-cause notices for five identified safety violations in the last six months. The government’s disclosure in the Parliament came up in the wake of the tragic Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed 241 lives on board.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed the Rajya Sabha that enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation, but specific details remain undisclosed. The notices were issued following a series of queries raised by Members of Parliament (MPs), including CPM member John Brittas, who had asked about the safety, reliability, and flightworthiness of Air India's flights.

The June 12 crash of Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, raised serious concerns about aviation safety in India. The aircraft, which was headed to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in one of the deadliest air crashes in recent history. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) launched a thorough investigation into the incident, and a preliminary report was published, although the probe is still ongoing.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu assured the House that the investigation is being conducted with full transparency and in accordance with international norms. "We want to stand by the truth. We want to find out what exactly happened, and that is only going to be coming out once the final report (of AAIB) is placed," he said. The minister also stressed on an important achievement in India's aviation safety efforts, noting that this is the first time India has successfully decoded black boxes within the country.

DGCA's Enforcement Actions

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been actively enforcing safety regulations, with 254 enforcement actions taken till April this year. Last year, there were 673 actions, and 542 in 2023. The enforcement actions can include warnings, suspension, cancellation, and imposition of financial penalties. The DGCA had ordered checks on Air India's fleet of Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft following the Ahmedabad crash. Out of 33 aircraft, 31 operational aircraft were inspected, and minor findings were observed in eight aircraft, which were released for operation post-rectification. Two aircraft are currently under scheduled maintenance.

Ahmedabad Air India Flight Crash Investigation

The investigation into the Ahmedabad crash is ongoing, with the AAIB probing every angle to ascertain the cause of the accident. When asked about the possibility of sabotage, Union Minister Mohol said the authorities are looking into every angle to pin down the cause of the crash. The preliminary report has raised more questions, with the cockpit voice recording revealing confusion among pilots about the fuel cutoff.