The DGCA, the aviation watchdog has slapped a Rs 1.10 crore on Air India for safety violations in the operations of leased Boeing 777 planes to the United States.
The regulator has penalized Air India for the second time in a week.
The regulator received a complaint from a former Air India pilot stating that the airline flew Boeing 777 planes to the United States without the necessary emergency oxygen delivery equipment.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and issued a show-cause notice to the airlines.
In a statement, DGCA stated, “Since the said operations of the leased aircraft were not in line with regulatory/ OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) performance limits, DGCA has initiated enforcement action and imposed a penalty of Rs 1.10 crore on Air India”.
Air India provided no immediate response on the penalty.
As per the release, the regulator carried out a thorough investigation after receiving a voluntary safety report from an airline employee alleging safety violations of flights operated by Air India on specific long-range terrain routes.
“Since the probe indicated non-compliance by the airline, DGCA issued a show cause notice was issued to Air India”, the statement reads.
The release did not include any specific details.
“DGCA analyzed the airline’s response to the show cause notice concerning the laid down stipulations under the relevant statutory provisions and the performance limits stipulated in critical documentation laid down by the OEM before taking the enforcement action”, the statement added.
