DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh fine on Air India; Here's why

New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh for lapses in addressing a "safety sensitive issue" related to the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend in the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27. Besides, the license of the pilot who operated the flight has been suspended for three months, the regulator said in a statement. 

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An Air India pilot allegedly allowed a female companion to enter and remain in the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Delhi in February, contravening safety regulations. India's aviation regulator had demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

The DGCA official claimed that immediately after takeoff on February 27 from Dubai, the pilot had requested his female friend, who was a passenger on the same flight, to join him in the cockpit. According to the official, the woman stayed there for the entirety of the journey, which was roughly three hours.

The official claimed that the pilot's conduct not only violated security but also created a diversion that might have jeopardized the flight's and its passengers' safety. According to the official, the pilot might be subject to punishment, such as having his licence suspended or revoked, depending on how the investigation turns out.

The show cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and head of flight safety on April 21 for not doing timely reporting of the incident to DGCA, which is in violation of the regulator's safety instructions. 

Besides, there was a delay in investigating the incident. Both the executives have been given 15 days to respond to the show cause notices, the official said.

Earlier this month, DGCA directed Air India to deroster the entire crew of the Dubai-Delhi flight till investigations are complete.

(Inputs from PTI)

• DGCA fines Air India
• pilot license suspended