Air India fined ₹90 lakh, DGCA took action for flying with unqualified pilots

The DGCA, the aviation watchdog, slapped a fine of ₹90 lakh on Tata Group-owned Air India for having flown an aircraft with unqualified pilots. Besides this, fines have been slapped on Air India's Director of Operations Pankul Mathur, Director of Training Manish Vasavada to the tune of ₹6 lakh and ₹3 lakh, respectively, for the lapse.

In a release, the DGCA said that the concerned pilot has been warned against taking precautions to prevent such incidents in future. "Air India Limited operated a flight manned by an untrained Line Captain accompanied by an untrained First Officer. This has been viewed by the regulator as a serious lapse from the safety point of view," it said.

The DGCA had also slapped a penalty of Rs 90 lakh on Air India, Rs 6 lakh on its Director of Operations, and Rs 3 lakh on the Director of Training for the violation. Besides initiating an inquiry into the airline's operations apart from scrutiny of documents and spot check of the scheduling facility over the incident, which came to its notice through a voluntary report submitted by it on July 10.

"Based on the investigation, prima facie it is found that several officials and employees have violated regulatory provisions which may have materially impacted safety," a release from the regulator said. 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.