'No Chief Pilot, Poor Simulator Maintenance': DGCA Uncovers Multiple Lapses At Air India Office Days After AI-171 Crash

New Delhi: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conducted an inspection of the Air India office and discovered that there is currently no chief pilot assigned to oversee the operations and safety of the Boeing 787 fleet.

This alarming revelation comes just days after Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, crashed into a building mere seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.

The tragic incident involved 242 passengers and resulted in over 250 casualties, as the aircraft crashed into a medical hostel building. Out of the 242 passengers, only one passenger had survived. He was identified to be a British national. 

The passenger survived the worst crash in India's aviation history miraculously when he was seen walking out from the wreckage of the plane.

The DGCA inspection further revealed that the Air India Training Organisation (ATO) lacks key personnel, including an Accountable Manager, Head of Training, and a Quality Manager.

In addition, the aviation watchdog flagged concerns regarding poor simulator maintenance. A comprehensive audit of Air India's flight operations has since been completed and a detailed report has been submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Delhi-London Air India flight crash-landed just seconds after takeoff  

India witnessed its worst aviation disaster when AI-171 plane bound for London crashed with 242 passengers onboard just seconds after it took off.

The plane failed to gain the lift and had attained just an altitude of over 625 feet when it crashed into a medical hostel when people there were having lunch. The crash took place at 1:39 PM on June 12. 

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also onboard the ill-fated flight who died in the incident. Except one lone survivor, all 241 passengers onboard died in the tragic incident. 

The plane which hit the building at a turbulent speed with over 1 lakh litres of petrol turned into a ball of fire that resulted into a huge explosion.

The black box of AI-171 has been found and sent to a neutral centre aboard and is being decoded as to ascertain the cause of the crash.