Aviation watchdog DGCA has imposed a penalty of Rs 90 lakh on Tata Group-owned Air India and has also suspended the airline’s director of training for six months in connection with a flight that was operated with non-qualified pilots.Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped fines of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 3 lakh on Air India’s Director of Operations Pankul Mathur and Director of Training Manish Vasavada for the lapse.
In a release on Friday, the regulator said the pilot concerned has been warned to exercise caution to prevent such occurrences in future.
“Air India Ltd operated a flight commanded by a non-trainer line captain paired with a non-line-released first officer which has been viewed by the regulator as a serious scheduling incident having significant safety ramifications,” the release said.
For the violations, DGCA has imposed a fine of Rs 90 lakh on Air India, Rs 6 lakh on the Director of Operations and Rs 3 lakh on the Director of Training. Also, the Director of Training has been suspended for six months.
After the incident came to its notice through a voluntary report submitted by the airline on July 10, the regulator investigated the operations of the carrier, including examination of documentations and spot check of the scheduling facility.