The DGCA, on January 24, imposed a penalty of Rs 1.10 crore on Air India for alleged safety violations on specific long-range terrain critical routes.
Air India’s leased Boeing 777 plane was cited for flying to the US without the required emergency oxygen supply system.
The enforcement action followed a complaint by a former senior pilot, who accused Air India of operating Boeing 777 planes to the US without the necessary emergency oxygen supply.
The pilot, a former B777 commander, raised the concern on October 29 and is no longer with the airline.
The complaint highlighted the lack of an extra oxygen cylinder on some Boeing 777s, crucial for flights over high mountains, like the Hindu Kush range.
Air India, in response, stated that the matter had been examined by internal and external experts, emphasizing their commitment to passenger and crew safety.
The pilot claimed to have refused to operate a leased B777 due to oxygen system issues on a San Francisco to Bengaluru flight on January 30, 2023, and was terminated three months later. For the high terrain Hindukush route, Air India had undertaken preparations in 2021, including simulator drills and special precautions.
This marks the seventh fine issued by DGCA to Air India in the last 12 months, totaling around Rs 2.5 crore, including a recent Rs 10 lakh fine for non-compliance with passenger facility rules.
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