Lucknow Press
New Delhi. Aviation regulator DGCA has imposed a fine of Rs 90 lakh on Tata Group-owned Air India for operating a flight with unqualified pilots. Apart from this, the regulator has imposed a fine of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 3 lakh on Air India Operations Director Pankul Mathur and Training Director Manish Vasavada for this lapse.
In a release, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that the pilot concerned has been warned to take precautions to prevent such incidents in future. Air India Ltd operated a flight manned by an untrained line captain. He was accompanied by an untrained first officer. The regulator has viewed this as a serious lapse from the safety point of view.
For the violation, the DGCA has imposed a fine of Rs 90 lakh on Air India, Rs 6 lakh on the director of operations and Rs 3 lakh on the director of training. After the incident came to its notice through a voluntary report submitted by the airline on July 10, the regulator also examined the airline’s operations with scrutiny of documents and spot check of scheduling facility.
A release from the regulator said that based on the investigation, prima facie it was found that several officials and employees had violated regulatory provisions, which could have a significant impact on safety. The DGCA also said that the flight commander and officials of the airline were given an opportunity to explain their position through a show cause notice issued on July 22.
The replies given by the persons concerned were not satisfactory, DGCA said in a note. Subsequently, DGCA initiated enforcement action in terms of the provisions of the existing rules/regulations and imposed the above penalty.
