New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday suspended Air India pilot's licence for three months for allowing friend in the cockpit of Delhi-Dubai flight on February 27. The aviation body has also fined Air India Rs 30 lakh for not taking prompt action in the case.
The regulator has also directed the airline to take “administrative action” against the friend-passenger who was travelling as staff on duty (SOD), including “removing her from any managerial functions in the organisation for a specified period.”
AI has been fined Rs 70 lakh by DGCA in three separate instances in the last few months. While accepting Friday's order, AI said it "rejects the assertion that no action was taken by (it) in response to the complaint" and claimed it had initiated action as soon as it got the same.
“During the operation of (this) flight AI 915 (Delhi-Dubai), the PIC allowed the entry into cockpit during cruise of an AI SOD travelling as passenger, in violation of DGCA regulations. CEO of Air India received a complaint in this regard from one of the operating crew member of the flight. However, the organisation did not take prompt corrective action despite this being a safety-sensitive violation. Anticipating delayed response, the complainant approached the DGCA,” the regulator said in a statement.
An AI spokesperson said: “We acknowledge and accept the DGCA’s ruling. However, we reject the assertion that no action was taken by Air India in response to the complaint. There were a number of allegations which needed to be worked through with due process and confidentiality, and which commenced immediately upon the complaint being lodged.”
The DGCA has taken three-pronged action in the lady friend in cockpit case. “AI has been fined Rs 30 lakh for not promptly and effectively addressing the safety sensitive issue. The pilot licence of the PIC has been suspended for three months for misuse of his authority vested under the Aircraft Rules 1937 and allowing violation of the applicable DGCA regulations. The co-pilot has been warned for not being assertive in preventing the violation,” the statement said. “AI has been directed to take administrative action against the SOD/passenger including removing from any managerial functions in the organisation for a specified period,” it added.
12/05/2023 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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