Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 28: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded an Air India aircraft after a serious safety lapse was discovered during a routine audit — an overdue inspection of the aircraft’s emergency slide system.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday that the aviation watchdog took immediate action by grounding the aircraft until the necessary rectification was completed. Enforcement proceedings have been initiated against Air India and the responsible personnel as per DGCA’s Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
The action follows a query raised by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva regarding whether Air India had been operating aircraft with overdue emergency slide inspections in the weeks leading up to the June 2025 crash of Flight-171, potentially violating mandatory safety norms.
Responding to this, Mohol confirmed the lapse and assured that accountability measures have been put in place. On the matter of DGCA's oversight, the minister stated that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had conducted a Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) audit of DGCA in 2022, awarding India an effective implementation score of 85.65.
Regarding enforcement capabilities, Mohol said the DGCA regularly conducts surveillance, spot checks, and night inspections to ensure compliance. He added, “In case of violations, DGCA takes action ranging from warnings to suspensions, cancellations, and financial penalties. DGCA officials are well-trained to carry out these oversight functions.”
The incident has raised renewed concerns about regulatory oversight and adherence to safety protocols by domestic carriers.