New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped a fine of $110,350 (around Rs 1 crore) on Air India for operating an Airbus aircraft eight times without a valid airworthiness permit.
Air India has been directed to deposit Rs 1 crore within 30 days.
According to a confidential order, the lapse further eroded public trust in the airline, India Today reported.
It was an Airbus A320, which flew passengers on multiple sectors between Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad on November 24 and 25, that didn’t have mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC).
In the penalty order, dated February 5, Indian authorities told Air India CEO Campbell Wilson that the episode had “further eroded public confidenc
e and adversely impacted the safety compliance of the organisation.”
“The accountable manager on behalf of Air India is found blameworthy for the above lapses,” DGCA Joint Director General Maneesh Kumar wrote, referring to Wilson.
In the confidential penalty order dated February 5, DGCA authorities told Air India CEO Campbell Wilson that November 24-25 episode had “further eroded public confidence and adversely impacted the safety compliance of the organisation.”
“The accountable manager on behalf of Air India is found blameworthy for the above lapses,” DGCA Joint Director General Maneesh Kumar stated, referring to Wilson.
Air India, which conducted an inquiry into the incident, had flagged “systemic failures” and acknowledged an urgent need to strengthen the airline’s compliance culture, Reuters reported in December.
The ARC is issued annually by the regulator after an aircraft clears safety and compliance checks.
Air India has been under intense scrutiny following the disastrous Ahmedabad crash on June 12, when all but one of 242 people on board the Boeing Dreamliner and 29 persons on te ground died.