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First Post
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- First Post
Air India Express skipped critical engine fix, falsified records: Report
DGCA warned parent company Air India for operating three Airbus planes with overdue escape slide checks and, in June, slammed Air India Express for serious pilot duty hour violations read more India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in March had called out Air India Express for failing to replace engine parts on an Airbus A320, as mandated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This revelation comes amid increased scrutiny in the country's aviation sector following the deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. According to a Reuters report citing official records, the airline also submitting falsified documents to fake compliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air India Express is a low-cost arm of Air India under the Tata Group and runs a fleet of over 115 planes, flying to more than 50 destinations with about 500 daily flights. What issues were flagged by DGCA? On March 18, the DGCA flagged issues with one of its Airbus planes, specifically aircraft VT-ATD, which flies domestic routes and international ones like Dubai and Muscat, per AirNav Radar. The regulator warned parent company Air India for operating three Airbus planes with overdue escape slide checks and, in June, slammed Air India Express for serious pilot duty hour violations. The DGCA in its notice said: 'This condition, if not corrected, could lead to failure of affected parts, possibly resulting in high energy debris release, with consequent damage to, and reduced control of, the aeroplane.' Back in 2023, EASA raised alarms about manufacturing flaws in CFM International's LEAP-1A engines, ordering airlines to replace certain parts like seals and rotating components. CFM International is the joint venture between GE Aerospace (formerly GE Aviation) and Safran Aircraft Engines, specialising in the design, manufacture, and support of commercial aircraft engines A confidential March government memo, reviewed by Reuters, showed Air India Express didn't make the required engine fixes on time for the A320. Worse, it allegedly tampered with AMOS—the software airlines use to track maintenance—to falsely show the work was done. Air India Express admitted the slip-up and said it's put corrective measures in place, according to Reuters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Telegraph
23-06-2025
- Telegraph
Iranian strikes on Qatar disrupt flights for thousands
Thousands of airline passengers had their journeys disrupted by Iran's missile strikes against Qatar. Almost 100 flights to destinations across the Middle East were diverted because of the Iranian attack on a US military base in Qatar on Monday afternoon. While an 'eerie calm' took hold at the main airport in the Qatari capital of Doha as the skies were closed to all civilian flights, thousands of others were finding themselves scattered across a variety of safe havens. At least seven Qatar Airways flights from the UK to Doha – having left from airports including Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh – were diverted in-flight as a result of the missile attacks. One, from Edinburgh to Doha, was diverted to Istanbul. Another ended up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while a third from Heathrow turned back over Italy. Other airlines were also severely affected, with flight-tracking website AirNav Radar estimating that 91 international flights scheduled to pass through Qatari airspace had been diverted. Meanwhile, a large number of people were marooned in Doha as a result of the country's authorities closing its skies to scheduled flights. One passenger, who identified himself only as Jai, said there was an 'eerie calm' at the Qatari airport as the Iranian attack took place. 'Nothing being advised' He said: 'No communication other than travellers discussing amongst each other. Nothing being advised to travellers by airlines. Boards still reading as 'Go to gate' and 'Now boarding' despite not being the case. 'Workers say that things are chaotic outside of the airport.' Travellers were urged to check before attempting to head to Middle Eastern destinations, or boarding flights that pass over the region. Julia Lo-Bue Said, the chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership association of travel agents, said: 'This is an evolving and fast-moving situation, and we recognise that it is likely to cause some consumer anxiety surrounding travelling to the region and for those already there. 'Travellers who have booked trips to the Middle East through a travel agent should get in touch also with the agent and airline, who will be best placed to offer the latest up-to-date guidance.' Advice for travellers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, last updated on Monday morning before the strikes, said: 'There is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights and other unanticipated travel impacts.'
The Star
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Air India warned over delayed checks on escape slides
The country's aviation regulator has warned Air India for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes flew despite there being overdue checks on emergency equipment, and for being slow to address the issue, government documents show. The warning notices and an investigation report – both reviewed by Reuters – were not in any way related to last week's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard, and were sent days before that incident. In the report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said spot checks in May on three Air India Airbus planes found that they were operated despite mandatory inspections being overdue on the 'critical emergency equipment' of escape slides. In one case, the watchdog found that the inspection of an Airbus A320 jet was delayed by more than a month before being carried out on May 15. AirNav Radar data shows that during the delay the plane flew to international destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. Another case, involving an Airbus A319 used on domestic routes, showed checks were over three months late, while a third showed an inspection was two days late. 'The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements,' the DGCA report said. Air India 'failed to submit timely compliance responses' to deficiencies raised by the DGCA, 'further evidencing weak procedural control and oversight', it added. Air India, which was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 from the government, said in a statement that it was 'accelerating' verification of all maintenance records, including dates of the escape slides, and would complete the process in the coming days. In one of the cases, Air India said, the issue came to light when an engineer from AI Engineering Services 'inadvertently deployed an escape slide during maintenance'. The DGCA and Airbus did not respond to Reuters queries. Checks on escape slides are 'a very serious issue. In case of accident, if they don't open, it can lead to serious injuries', said Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The DGCA said in its report that the certificates of airworthiness for aircraft that miss mandatory checks were 'deemed suspended'. — Reuters
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Violation of standard airworthiness…': Days before Air India crash, DGCA warned airline of breaching safety rules on Airbus aircraft: Report
The regulator noted that Air India "failed to submit timely compliance responses" to identified deficiencies. (Ai image) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had issued a warning to Air India regarding safety protocol violations, as three of the airline's Airbus aircraft continued operations despite pending inspections of emergency systems. The regulatory body also criticised the airline's delayed response in addressing these concerns, according to a Reuters report. It's important to note that these warning notices and an investigation report are not related to the Air India AI 171 Boeing 787 crash that happened on June 12. These communications and warnings by DGCA were given to Air India days before the crash. What DGCA warned Air India about The aviation regulator's report quoted in the Reuters report revealed that during May inspections, three Air India Airbus aircraft were found operating with overdue mandatory checks on escape slides, which are vital emergency equipment. An Airbus A320 aircraft's inspection was conducted on May 15, more than a month behind schedule. During this period, AirNav Radar tracking showed the aircraft served international routes including Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. The findings also highlighted that an Airbus A319, used for domestic flights, had checks delayed by over three months, whilst another aircraft's inspection was conducted two days late. The DGCA report said: "The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements." Also Read | Air India crash: N Chandrasekaran makes important statement; says AI 171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner had 'new engine', 'clean history' & 'no red flags' The regulator noted that Air India "failed to submit timely compliance responses" to identified deficiencies, "further evidencing weak procedural control and oversight." The airline, acquired by the Tata Group in 2022 from the government, responded that it was "accelerating" the verification of all maintenance records, including escape slide dates, with completion expected within days. The carrier clarified that in one instance, the issue was discovered when an AI Engineering Services engineer accidentally deployed an escape slide during maintenance work. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Safety checks on emergency escape slides are crucial, as their malfunction during accidents could result in grave consequences, according to Vibhuti Singh, who previously served as a legal expert at the government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The aviation regulator DGCA said that aircraft failing to undergo mandatory inspections would have their airworthiness certificates considered suspended. Documentation reveals that Animesh Garg, who holds the position of deputy director of airworthiness in the Indian government, dispatched the warning notices and reports to Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson and other senior officials, including the continuing airworthiness manager, quality manager and head of planning. Also Read | Air India plane crash: After 12/6, demand for Air India's 787s crashes A legal specialist in aviation matters indicated that such violations typically result in financial and civil penalties for both the company and individual executives. In a previous statement to Reuters, Wilson acknowledged that whilst global parts shortages affected the industry broadly, Air India faced greater challenges due to its older fleet, with numerous aircraft remaining unmodernised since their delivery in 2010-2011. Aviation authorities across the globe, including India's regulatory body, impose penalties on airlines for breaching compliance requirements. In February, the government informed parliament about 23 instances where airlines faced warnings or penalties for safety violations in the previous year. Air India and Air India Express accounted for twelve of these violations, with one case involving "unauthorised entry into the cockpit". The carrier faced its heftiest penalty of $127,000 for insufficient oxygen supplies during a San Francisco-bound flight. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
20-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Air India under fire for flying Airbus planes with unchecked emergency escape slides
India's aviation regulator has warned Air India for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes flew despite being overdue checks on emergency equipment, and for being slow to address the issue, government documents show. The warning notices and an investigation report - both reviewed by Reuters - were not in any way related to last week's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard, and were sent days before that incident. In the report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said spot checks in May on three Air India Airbus planes found that they were operated despite mandatory inspections being overdue on the "critical emergency equipment" of escape slides. In one case, the watchdog found that the inspection of an Airbus A320 jet was delayed by more than a month before being carried out on May 15. AirNav Radar data shows that during the delay the plane flew to international destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. Another case, involving an Airbus A319 used on domestic routes, showed checks were over three months late, while a third showed an inspection was two days late. "The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements," the DGCA report said. Air India "failed to submit timely compliance responses" to deficiencies raised by the DGCA, "further evidencing weak procedural control and oversight," it added. Air India, which was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022 from the government, said in statement that it was "accelerating" verification of all maintenance records, including dates of the escape slides, and would complete the process in the coming days. In one of the cases, Air India said, the issue came to light when an engineer from AI Engineering Services "inadvertently deployed an escape slide during maintenance". The DGCA and Airbus did not respond to Reuters queries. Checks on escape slides are "a very serious issue. In case of accident, if they don't open, it can lead to serious injuries," said Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The DGCA said in its report that the certificates of airworthiness for aircraft that miss mandatory checks were "deemed suspended". The warning notices and the report were sent by Animesh Garg, a deputy director of airworthiness in the Indian government, to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson as well as the airline's continuing airworthiness manager, quality manager and head of planning, the documents showed. An Indian aviation lawyer said such breaches typically attract monetary and civil penalties on both individual executives and the airline. Wilson told Reuters last year that global parts shortages were affecting most airlines, but the problem was "more acute" for Air India as its "product is obviously a lot more dated", with many planes not refreshed since they were delivered in 2010-2011. The Indian regulator, like many abroad, often fines airlines for compliance lapses. India's junior aviation minister in February told parliament that authorities had warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations last year. Around half of them - 12 - involved Air India and Air India Express, including in one case for "unauthorised entry into cockpit". The biggest fine was $127,000 on Air India for "insufficient oxygen on board" during a flight to San Francisco. Last week's crash, the causes of which are still being investigated, will further challenge Air India's attempts to rebuild its image, after years of criticism from travellers for poor service. Air India's Chairman N. Chandrasekaran on Monday told staff the crash should be a catalyst to build a safer airline, urging employees to stay resolute amid any criticism. In its report, the DGCA also said several Air India aircraft checked by officials had outdated registration paperwork. Air India told Reuters all but one aircraft complied with such requirements and this "poses no impact" to safety. The DGCA investigation report pulled up the airline for what it described as "inadequate internal oversight." "Despite prior notifications and identified deficiencies, the organization's internal quality and planning departments failed to implement effective corrective action, indicating systemic control failure," it said.
