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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulator, issued a stern warning to Air India regarding significant safety violations within its Airbus fleet just days before the Ahmedabad crash. This warning, centered around delayed inspections of critical emergency equipment on three of Air India's Airbus aircraft, highlights a concerning pattern of potential negligence within the airline. While the DGCA report was unrelated to the specific aircraft that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12th, it intensifies scrutiny on Air India's safety practices and raises questions about its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of airworthiness. The revelations, based on government documents reviewed by Reuters, underscore a systemic failure within Air India's internal oversight mechanisms, prompting serious concerns about passenger safety and the airline's overall operational integrity. The fact that these safety lapses occurred despite prior notifications and identified deficiencies suggests a deeper, more pervasive problem that requires immediate and comprehensive corrective action. The DGCA's findings paint a disturbing picture of aircraft being operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, a clear violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements. This blatant disregard for safety protocols is not only unacceptable but also potentially life-threatening, putting passengers and crew at risk. The delayed inspections focused on critical emergency escape slides, essential components for safe evacuation in the event of an emergency. In one particularly egregious case, the inspection of an Airbus A320 jet was delayed by over a month, with the aircraft reportedly flying internationally to Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah during this period. This raises serious questions about the airline's risk assessment procedures and its willingness to prioritize profit over safety. Another incident involved an Airbus A319 operating on domestic routes, where the required check was more than three months overdue. The fact that such significant delays were allowed to occur indicates a severe breakdown in Air India's maintenance scheduling and compliance procedures. The DGCA report explicitly criticized Air India for its slow response to the deficiencies flagged by the regulator. The airline's failure to submit timely compliance responses further underscores the weak procedural control and oversight within the organization. This lack of responsiveness not only demonstrates a lack of accountability but also suggests a potential attempt to downplay the severity of the safety violations. The incident involving an engineer from AI Engineering Services inadvertently deploying an escape slide during maintenance further highlights the haphazard nature of Air India's maintenance practices. This seemingly minor incident serves as a microcosm of the larger systemic issues plaguing the airline, underscoring the need for a complete overhaul of its maintenance procedures and safety protocols. The DGCA's warning extends beyond mere individual incidents, highlighting broader concerns about the overall airworthiness of Air India's fleet. The regulator noted that certificates of airworthiness for aircraft that missed mandatory checks were "deemed suspended," indicating a potential grounding of these aircraft if the issues were not addressed promptly. Additionally, the discovery of outdated registration paperwork on several Air India aircraft further underscores the airline's lax attitude towards regulatory compliance. While Air India attempted to downplay the significance of these lapses, claiming that only one aircraft remained non-compliant and that the issue "poses no impact" to safety, the regulator rightfully flagged the lapses as signs of "inadequate internal oversight." This highlights the importance of independent oversight and the need for regulatory bodies like the DGCA to hold airlines accountable for their safety practices.
The DGCA report explicitly stated that Air India's "internal quality and planning departments failed to implement effective corrective action, indicating systemic control failure." This damning assessment reveals a deep-seated problem within the airline's management structure, suggesting that the safety violations are not isolated incidents but rather the result of a more fundamental breakdown in internal controls. Air India's response to the DGCA's warnings and investigation findings has been met with skepticism, particularly given the airline's history of safety violations and its recent financial struggles. While the airline has stated that it is "accelerating" verification of all maintenance records, including escape slide inspection dates, and plans to complete the process in the coming days, it remains to be seen whether these promises will translate into concrete action. The credibility of Air India's commitment to safety will depend on its ability to implement meaningful changes to its maintenance procedures, improve its internal oversight mechanisms, and foster a culture of safety throughout the organization. The fact that the warnings and investigation findings were sent directly to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, as well as the airline's heads of planning, airworthiness, and quality, underscores the seriousness of the situation and the need for immediate action at the highest levels of the organization. The DGCA and Airbus have declined to comment on the matter, further fueling speculation about the potential severity of the safety violations and the ongoing investigation. The aviation watchdog's scrutiny of Air India comes at a time of heightened focus on safety compliance within the Indian aviation industry. Earlier this year, India's junior aviation minister informed Parliament that 23 safety violation cases had been flagged in 2023, with a significant portion of these involving Air India and Air India Express. This underscores the need for increased vigilance and stricter enforcement of safety regulations within the Indian aviation sector. Notably, Air India was fined $127,000 for "insufficient oxygen on board" during a San Francisco-bound flight, while another case involved "unauthorised entry into cockpit." These incidents highlight the range of safety violations that have plagued Air India in recent years, further eroding public trust in the airline's safety record. In light of the recent Boeing 787-8 crash in Ahmedabad, which tragically claimed the lives of all but one of the 242 people on board, Air India faces fresh challenges to restore its reputation. While the crash is unrelated to the current safety warnings, it has intensified scrutiny on the airline's safety practices and heightened public awareness of the potential risks associated with air travel.
The Ahmedabad crash serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to the highest standards of safety in the aviation industry. Even though the DGCA report was not directly linked to the cause of the crash, the timing of the safety warnings underscores the interconnectedness of safety issues and the potential for seemingly minor violations to have catastrophic consequences. The public's perception of Air India's safety record has undoubtedly been tarnished by these recent events, and the airline will need to take significant steps to rebuild trust and reassure passengers that their safety is the top priority. Chairman N Chandrasekaran addressed employees on Monday, urging them to view the tragedy as a turning point and calling on staff to stay resilient and work toward building a safer airline amid any criticism. This message, while well-intentioned, will need to be backed up by concrete action and demonstrable improvements in safety performance. Air India's path to restoring its reputation will be long and arduous, but it is essential that the airline embraces this opportunity to transform its safety culture and prioritize the well-being of its passengers and crew. The airline must commit to investing in its maintenance infrastructure, strengthening its internal oversight mechanisms, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. Furthermore, Air India must work closely with the DGCA and other regulatory bodies to ensure that it is fully compliant with all safety regulations and industry best practices. The safety of air travel depends on the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including airlines, regulators, and manufacturers. Air India's recent safety violations serve as a wake-up call, reminding us of the importance of vigilance, accountability, and a relentless pursuit of safety excellence. The future of Air India, and indeed the future of the Indian aviation industry, depends on a commitment to safety above all else. The DGCA's proactive approach in identifying and addressing these safety lapses is commendable, and it is crucial that the regulator continues to hold airlines accountable for their safety performance. The Indian government must also provide adequate resources and support to the DGCA to enable it to effectively oversee the aviation industry and ensure the safety of air travel for all. Ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring safety rests with Air India. The airline must take ownership of its shortcomings and demonstrate a genuine commitment to transforming its safety culture. Only then can Air India hope to regain the trust of its passengers and restore its reputation as a safe and reliable airline. The lessons learned from these recent events must serve as a catalyst for positive change within Air India and throughout the Indian aviation industry.
Source: Days before Ahmedabad crash, DGCA had warned Air India over safety lapses in Airbus fleet