DGCA Imposes ₹1.1 Crore Fine on Air India for Safety Violations Following Employee Complaint

DGCA Imposes ₹1.1 Crore Fine on Air India for Safety Violations

India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, has imposed a fine of Rs 1.1 crore on Air India for breaching safety regulations. The violation pertains to the non-compliance of required regulations and safety guidelines related to oxygen in certain flights operated with Boeing B777 aircraft.

The penalty was levied after an employee of the airline raised concerns with the DGCA. This action follows a previous fine of Rs 30 lakh imposed last week by DGCA on Air India for errors in pilot rostering affecting flight operations during low visibility conditions.

Specific Deficiency Identified:

The deficiency highlighted in the latest fine is related to the ’12-minute chemical passenger oxygen system.’ The DGCA received the complaint in October from an employee, stating that safety regulations had been violated on flights between Mumbai/Bengaluru and San Francisco operated by Air India using Boeing B777 aircraft. The reported violations were said to have occurred since November 2022.

DGCA Inspection Leads to ₹1.10 Crore Fine on Air India

Following a complaint, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted an inspection of Air India’s ’12-minute chemical passenger oxygen system,’ which produces oxygen in the aircraft for approximately 12-15 minutes during emergencies. This system allows the pilot to descend to a lower altitude where additional oxygen is not required.

Imposition of ₹1.10 Crore Fine:

After an investigation and issuance of a show-cause notice, the DGCA found rule violations by Air India. Subsequently, the aviation regulator imposed a fine of ₹1.10 crore on the airline. The decision was made after examining Air India’s response to the show-cause notice.

Previous Penalty:

Last week, DGCA had fined Air India ₹30 lakh for mistakes in the rostering of pilots affecting flight operations during low visibility conditions.