News Analysis India

Tag: DGCA

  • Air India CEO, head of flight safety get DGCA notice over Dubai-Delhi flight incident

    By PTI

    MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for the airline’s lapses in reporting about the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27, according to a senior official.

    A show-cause notice has also been issued to the Tata Group-owned airline’s Head of Safety, Security and Quality Functions Henry Donohoe.

    A cabin crew member of the flight had filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the pilot allowing a female friend into the cockpit.

    The incident happened on February 27.

    The show-cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and the 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, the senior official at the DGCA told PTI on Sunday.

    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.

    There was no immediate comment from Air India.

    According to sources, “The actual incident occurred on February 27 and it was reported by confidential mail to Campbell and Donohoe on March 3. The first enquiry was conducted by the DGCA on April 21 while Air India had not done any enquiry before that.”

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

    On April 21, the airline said it had taken serious note of the reported incident and that investigations were underway.

    Unauthorised people are not allowed to enter the cockpit and any such entry could be a violation of norms.

    It may be recalled that earlier this year Air India was slapped with a fine of Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for not reporting two back-to-back incidents of alleged peeing on its international flights.

    MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for the airline’s lapses in reporting about the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27, according to a senior official.

    A show-cause notice has also been issued to the Tata Group-owned airline’s Head of Safety, Security and Quality Functions Henry Donohoe.

    A cabin crew member of the flight had filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the pilot allowing a female friend into the cockpit.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The incident happened on February 27.

    The show-cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and the 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, the senior official at the DGCA told PTI on Sunday.

    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.

    There was no immediate comment from Air India.

    According to sources, “The actual incident occurred on February 27 and it was reported by confidential mail to Campbell and Donohoe on March 3. The first enquiry was conducted by the DGCA on April 21 while Air India had not done any enquiry before that.”

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

    On April 21, the airline said it had taken serious note of the reported incident and that investigations were underway.

    Unauthorised people are not allowed to enter the cockpit and any such entry could be a violation of norms.

    It may be recalled that earlier this year Air India was slapped with a fine of Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for not reporting two back-to-back incidents of alleged peeing on its international flights.

  • 63 passengers put on ‘No Fly List’ in 2022: Civil aviation ministry

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry on Monday said three passengers have been put on the ‘No Fly List’ this year while a total of 63 passengers were placed on the list in 2022.

    A total of 143 passengers have been put on the list since 2017, according to data provided by the ministry to the Rajya Sabha.

    These passengers were placed on the list as recommended by airlines’ internal committees set up as per aviation regulator DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) pertaining to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers.

    The CAR was notified in September 2017 as a measure to deal with the issue related to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers.

    “As on date, there are 143 passengers who have been placed in ‘No Fly List’ for such period, as per the recommendations of airline’s internal committee since 2017,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

    As per the data, Air India has put three passengers on the list in 2023.

    In 2022, IndiGo placed 46 individuals on the No Fly List while Vistara had put 16 passengers on the list.

    SpiceJet had put 1 passenger on the list, the data showed.

    According to the data, in 2021, a total of 45 individuals were put on the list by IndiGo, 19 by Vistara and 2 by AirAsia.

    IndiGo had put 10 people on the list in 2020 and the now defunct Jet Airways had placed one passenger on the No Fly List in 2017.

    ALSO READ | Top Air India officials aware of urination incident hours after flight, reveals emails

    In another written reply, the minister said that a total of 63 passengers have been placed on the list last year.

    “These include two incidents of urinating that have come to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in last year. The majority of the passengers placed on ‘No Fly List’ were for the violation related to not wearing masks or not obeying the instructions of the crew members,” he said.

    The CAR related to the handling of unruly passengers is applicable to all Indian operators engaged in scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, both domestic and international, for carriage of passengers.

    It is also applicable to all airport operators within Indian territory, all passengers during the period of air travel in or over India and all foreign carriers subject to compliance of the Tokyo Convention 1963.

    The CAR provides measures to pre-empt such incidents by way of training of flight crew, cabin crew and ground staff in soft skills to deal with unruly passengers besides how to detect, diffuse and prevent a critical situation.

    “It also provides for training of such operative personnel for dealing with conflict and its aftermath, ways/means to mitigate situations arising due to long waiting lines, flight being overbooked, delays and diversion/cancellation as well as lack of information, etc,” Singh said.

    NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry on Monday said three passengers have been put on the ‘No Fly List’ this year while a total of 63 passengers were placed on the list in 2022.

    A total of 143 passengers have been put on the list since 2017, according to data provided by the ministry to the Rajya Sabha.

    These passengers were placed on the list as recommended by airlines’ internal committees set up as per aviation regulator DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) pertaining to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers.

    The CAR was notified in September 2017 as a measure to deal with the issue related to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers.

    “As on date, there are 143 passengers who have been placed in ‘No Fly List’ for such period, as per the recommendations of airline’s internal committee since 2017,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

    As per the data, Air India has put three passengers on the list in 2023.

    In 2022, IndiGo placed 46 individuals on the No Fly List while Vistara had put 16 passengers on the list.

    SpiceJet had put 1 passenger on the list, the data showed.

    According to the data, in 2021, a total of 45 individuals were put on the list by IndiGo, 19 by Vistara and 2 by AirAsia.

    IndiGo had put 10 people on the list in 2020 and the now defunct Jet Airways had placed one passenger on the No Fly List in 2017.

    ALSO READ | Top Air India officials aware of urination incident hours after flight, reveals emails

    In another written reply, the minister said that a total of 63 passengers have been placed on the list last year.

    “These include two incidents of urinating that have come to the notice of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in last year. The majority of the passengers placed on ‘No Fly List’ were for the violation related to not wearing masks or not obeying the instructions of the crew members,” he said.

    The CAR related to the handling of unruly passengers is applicable to all Indian operators engaged in scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, both domestic and international, for carriage of passengers.

    It is also applicable to all airport operators within Indian territory, all passengers during the period of air travel in or over India and all foreign carriers subject to compliance of the Tokyo Convention 1963.

    The CAR provides measures to pre-empt such incidents by way of training of flight crew, cabin crew and ground staff in soft skills to deal with unruly passengers besides how to detect, diffuse and prevent a critical situation.

    “It also provides for training of such operative personnel for dealing with conflict and its aftermath, ways/means to mitigate situations arising due to long waiting lines, flight being overbooked, delays and diversion/cancellation as well as lack of information, etc,” Singh said.

  • ‘Pee-gate’ case: Air India closes internal probe; to assist pilot in appeal against license suspension 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Nearly two months after the urination incident on its New York-New Delhi flight, Air India on Tuesday said it has closed the internal probe into the case and will assist the flight’s pilot-in-command with an appeal against the suspension of his license by DGCA as the airline deems the action as “excessive”.

    Last week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the license of the pilot for three months, imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India and Rs 3 lakh on the director of the airline’s in-flight services, related to the urination incident that happened on November 26, 2022.

    Against this backdrop, a joint forum of six unions on Tuesday appealed to DGCA to revoke the suspension of the license of the pilot-in-command of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi where a male passenger allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger.

    Meanwhile, the Tata group-owned airline has also issued a revised in-flight alcohol service policy wherein cabin crew have been told to tactfully refuse further serving of alcohol if needed.

    On Tuesday, Air India said it has closed the internal investigation into the actions of its crew operating and administrative staff supporting the AI 102 (New York-New Delhi) on November 26, 2022.

    In a statement, the airline said it accepts that notwithstanding the mitigating circumstances, based on the letter of the CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) it did not correctly classify the incident and therefore did not report it as required.

    “The crew and ground staff have been issued warning letters to henceforth adhere strictly to CAR definition of ‘unruly’ when reporting incidents onboard so that later investigation can assess the facts. The cabin crew and ground staff have been counselled and have since returned to duty,” it said.

    In light of the mitigating circumstances and the financial detriment already incurred by the crew during their period of de-rostering, Air India said it deems the license suspension of the Commander excessive and will be assisting him with an appeal.

    “Air India wishes to acknowledge the good faith efforts made by the crew to handle the situation effectively in real-time when not all facts were available. It also notes that a contemporaneous written statement by a fellow business class passenger includes an explicit commendation of the actions of the cabin crew and that his criticism of the pilot was in the context of not having been granted an upgrade,” the statement said.

    Separately, DGCA on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-New Delhi flight on December 6, 2022.

    In a statement, the regulator said the incidents of passenger misbehaviour occurred on the AI-142 flight from Paris to New Delhi on December 6, 2022.

    It came to the notice of the regulator only this month.

    One drunk passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory and not adhering to the crew instructions, and another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger when she went to the lavatory, it said.

    Meanwhile, giving a detailed account of the New York-New Delhi flight incident, Air India on Tuesday said the crew were approached by the complainant seeking assistance after allegedly being urinated on by a fellow passenger.

    “In the absence of any witnesses, the crew took the complainant’s allegation at face value and assisted her by providing fresh clothes, helping clean her belongings and relocating her to another business class seat of the same type as her original one. When awoken and confronted with the allegation, the alleged perpetrator was calm, co-operative and professed ignorance of the allegation,” it said.

    The airline also clarified that the accused passenger had not been served “excessive alcohol” by the crew and did not appear “intoxicated” to the crew.

    It also said that the commander was kept regularly informed by the cabin crew.

    “In the judgement of the crew, the alleged perpetrator posed no risk to flight safety at any time,” Air India said.

    Acknowledging that, in immediately taking the complainant’s accusation at face value and providing assistance, it follows that the matter should have been reported as a prima facie case of a passenger “… behaving in a disorderly manner towards… other passengers”.

    The matter should have been classified and reported as such, without prejudice to any subsequent investigation into the facts, Air India said.

    Noting that upon receipt of the voyage report, the airline said ground staff “did not challenge the crew’s assessment” and, therefore, it also “did not report the matter as an unruly incident”.

    According to the airline, “based on the absence of witnesses to the alleged act, that the alleged perpetrator was peaceful, co-operative and claiming ignorance of the event, that there was no risk to flight safety and that a resolution had been witnessed between the parties, the crew made a judgement call to record the matter as an (non-reportable) in-flight incident rather than a (reportable) case of unruliness”.

    Further, Air India said that in the absence of witnesses to the alleged act, the crew were being asked to make a “presumption of the accused guilt which runs contrary to natural justice and due process”.

    In connection with the urination incident, the accused Shankar Mishra is in jail now.

    MUMBAI: Nearly two months after the urination incident on its New York-New Delhi flight, Air India on Tuesday said it has closed the internal probe into the case and will assist the flight’s pilot-in-command with an appeal against the suspension of his license by DGCA as the airline deems the action as “excessive”.

    Last week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended the license of the pilot for three months, imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India and Rs 3 lakh on the director of the airline’s in-flight services, related to the urination incident that happened on November 26, 2022.

    Against this backdrop, a joint forum of six unions on Tuesday appealed to DGCA to revoke the suspension of the license of the pilot-in-command of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi where a male passenger allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger.

    Meanwhile, the Tata group-owned airline has also issued a revised in-flight alcohol service policy wherein cabin crew have been told to tactfully refuse further serving of alcohol if needed.

    On Tuesday, Air India said it has closed the internal investigation into the actions of its crew operating and administrative staff supporting the AI 102 (New York-New Delhi) on November 26, 2022.

    In a statement, the airline said it accepts that notwithstanding the mitigating circumstances, based on the letter of the CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) it did not correctly classify the incident and therefore did not report it as required.

    “The crew and ground staff have been issued warning letters to henceforth adhere strictly to CAR definition of ‘unruly’ when reporting incidents onboard so that later investigation can assess the facts. The cabin crew and ground staff have been counselled and have since returned to duty,” it said.

    In light of the mitigating circumstances and the financial detriment already incurred by the crew during their period of de-rostering, Air India said it deems the license suspension of the Commander excessive and will be assisting him with an appeal.

    “Air India wishes to acknowledge the good faith efforts made by the crew to handle the situation effectively in real-time when not all facts were available. It also notes that a contemporaneous written statement by a fellow business class passenger includes an explicit commendation of the actions of the cabin crew and that his criticism of the pilot was in the context of not having been granted an upgrade,” the statement said.

    Separately, DGCA on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-New Delhi flight on December 6, 2022.

    In a statement, the regulator said the incidents of passenger misbehaviour occurred on the AI-142 flight from Paris to New Delhi on December 6, 2022.

    It came to the notice of the regulator only this month.

    One drunk passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory and not adhering to the crew instructions, and another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger when she went to the lavatory, it said.

    Meanwhile, giving a detailed account of the New York-New Delhi flight incident, Air India on Tuesday said the crew were approached by the complainant seeking assistance after allegedly being urinated on by a fellow passenger.

    “In the absence of any witnesses, the crew took the complainant’s allegation at face value and assisted her by providing fresh clothes, helping clean her belongings and relocating her to another business class seat of the same type as her original one. When awoken and confronted with the allegation, the alleged perpetrator was calm, co-operative and professed ignorance of the allegation,” it said.

    The airline also clarified that the accused passenger had not been served “excessive alcohol” by the crew and did not appear “intoxicated” to the crew.

    It also said that the commander was kept regularly informed by the cabin crew.

    “In the judgement of the crew, the alleged perpetrator posed no risk to flight safety at any time,” Air India said.

    Acknowledging that, in immediately taking the complainant’s accusation at face value and providing assistance, it follows that the matter should have been reported as a prima facie case of a passenger “… behaving in a disorderly manner towards… other passengers”.

    The matter should have been classified and reported as such, without prejudice to any subsequent investigation into the facts, Air India said.

    Noting that upon receipt of the voyage report, the airline said ground staff “did not challenge the crew’s assessment” and, therefore, it also “did not report the matter as an unruly incident”.

    According to the airline, “based on the absence of witnesses to the alleged act, that the alleged perpetrator was peaceful, co-operative and claiming ignorance of the event, that there was no risk to flight safety and that a resolution had been witnessed between the parties, the crew made a judgement call to record the matter as an (non-reportable) in-flight incident rather than a (reportable) case of unruliness”.

    Further, Air India said that in the absence of witnesses to the alleged act, the crew were being asked to make a “presumption of the accused guilt which runs contrary to natural justice and due process”.

    In connection with the urination incident, the accused Shankar Mishra is in jail now.

  • Wells Fargo sacks Indian man who urinated on Air India co-passenger

    By AFP

    NEW DELHI: US banking giant Wells Fargo on Friday sacked a top Indian executive now being pursued by police for allegedly urinating on a fellow passenger aboard an Air India flight.

    Shankar Mishra, who media reports said was the vice president of the bank’s India operations, was terminated after a 72-year-old woman wrote to Air India’s management to complain about the November incident.

    “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and we find these allegations deeply disturbing,” the company said in a statement.

    “This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo,” it added, without naming Mishra or specifying his position. The bank said they were “cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them.”

    Mishra, who was reportedly drunk during the journey from New York to New Delhi on November 26, has been on the run from authorities after the airline lodged a criminal complaint. Police in Delhi said the accused was still at large and that they had been in contact with his family.

    ALSO READ | Air India miscreant ‘begged’ woman flyer to not file complaint

    But in a statement released by his lawyers and reported by local media, Mishra said that he had already settled the matter by compensating the woman at the time of the incident.

    “The WhatsApp messages between the accused and the lady clearly show that the accused had got the clothes and bags cleaned on November 28 and the same were delivered on November 30,” the statement read, according to India Today.

    Air India, recently bought by the sprawling conglomerate Tata Group after decades under state control, has faced a torrent of criticism for its handling of the woman’s complaint.

    India’s aviation regulator has admonished Air India’s management for not reporting the incident.

    “The conduct of the concerned airline appears to be unprofessional and has led to a systemic failure,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

    NEW DELHI: US banking giant Wells Fargo on Friday sacked a top Indian executive now being pursued by police for allegedly urinating on a fellow passenger aboard an Air India flight.

    Shankar Mishra, who media reports said was the vice president of the bank’s India operations, was terminated after a 72-year-old woman wrote to Air India’s management to complain about the November incident.

    “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and we find these allegations deeply disturbing,” the company said in a statement.

    “This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo,” it added, without naming Mishra or specifying his position. The bank said they were “cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them.”

    Mishra, who was reportedly drunk during the journey from New York to New Delhi on November 26, has been on the run from authorities after the airline lodged a criminal complaint. Police in Delhi said the accused was still at large and that they had been in contact with his family.

    ALSO READ | Air India miscreant ‘begged’ woman flyer to not file complaint

    But in a statement released by his lawyers and reported by local media, Mishra said that he had already settled the matter by compensating the woman at the time of the incident.

    “The WhatsApp messages between the accused and the lady clearly show that the accused had got the clothes and bags cleaned on November 28 and the same were delivered on November 30,” the statement read, according to India Today.

    Air India, recently bought by the sprawling conglomerate Tata Group after decades under state control, has faced a torrent of criticism for its handling of the woman’s complaint.

    India’s aviation regulator has admonished Air India’s management for not reporting the incident.

    “The conduct of the concerned airline appears to be unprofessional and has led to a systemic failure,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

  • Another mid-air peeing incident: Man peed on woman’s blanket of Paris-Delhi Air India flight

    By Online Desk

    Another case of drunken misbehaviour mid-air has come to light. On December 6, a drunk man had allegedly urinated on the blanket of a female passenger on a Paris-Delhi Air India flight.

    The pilot of the aircraft reported the matter to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport about it however no action was taken as the male passenger gave a written apology, officials told PTI. They added that airport security was informed that the male passenger was “under the influence of alcohol and he was not following the instructions of the cabin crew and he later peed on a blanket of an onboard lady passenger”.

    Although apprehended by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as soon as he deboarded the plane at 9:40 am, he was allowed to leave after giving a written apology following a “mutual compromise” with the female co-passenger.

    The lady passenger, who had initially made a written complaint, had reportedly refused to file a police case.

    Air India on Wednesday imposed a 30-day flying ban on a passenger who had exposed himself and urinated on a female co-passenger onboard a flight from New York to Delhi on November 26 last year. It is also a matter of surprise that the person was allowed to leave the aircraft after the incident.

    The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against the accused man who has been identified as Shekhar Mishra, a businessman in his fifties from Mumbai, and are searching for him.

    Separately, aviation regulator DGCA said it has sought a report from the airline on the incident and will “take action against those found negligent”.

    The incident only came to light after the aggrieved woman passenger wrote a letter to N Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group. She alleged that the drunk man had walked to her seat, unzipped his pants and urinated. Even after urinating, the man continued to expose his private parts and only moved when other passengers asked him to leave. Her clothes, shoes, and bag were completely soaked in urine.

    “The stewardess followed me to the seat, verified that it smelled of urine, and sprayed disinfectant on my bag and shoes…” she said in her letter. And when the woman complained to the crew, they reportedly just gave her a set of pyjamas and slippers and told her to return to her seat, claiming no other seat was available.

    The woman also complained about being alloted a small seat used by the airline staff, by one of the senior stewardesses.

    (With PTI inputs)

    Another case of drunken misbehaviour mid-air has come to light. On December 6, a drunk man had allegedly urinated on the blanket of a female passenger on a Paris-Delhi Air India flight.

    The pilot of the aircraft reported the matter to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport about it however no action was taken as the male passenger gave a written apology, officials told PTI. They added that airport security was informed that the male passenger was “under the influence of alcohol and he was not following the instructions of the cabin crew and he later peed on a blanket of an onboard lady passenger”.

    Although apprehended by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as soon as he deboarded the plane at 9:40 am, he was allowed to leave after giving a written apology following a “mutual compromise” with the female co-passenger.

    The lady passenger, who had initially made a written complaint, had reportedly refused to file a police case.

    Air India on Wednesday imposed a 30-day flying ban on a passenger who had exposed himself and urinated on a female co-passenger onboard a flight from New York to Delhi on November 26 last year. It is also a matter of surprise that the person was allowed to leave the aircraft after the incident.

    The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against the accused man who has been identified as Shekhar Mishra, a businessman in his fifties from Mumbai, and are searching for him.

    Separately, aviation regulator DGCA said it has sought a report from the airline on the incident and will “take action against those found negligent”.

    The incident only came to light after the aggrieved woman passenger wrote a letter to N Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group. She alleged that the drunk man had walked to her seat, unzipped his pants and urinated. Even after urinating, the man continued to expose his private parts and only moved when other passengers asked him to leave. Her clothes, shoes, and bag were completely soaked in urine.

    “The stewardess followed me to the seat, verified that it smelled of urine, and sprayed disinfectant on my bag and shoes…” she said in her letter. And when the woman complained to the crew, they reportedly just gave her a set of pyjamas and slippers and told her to return to her seat, claiming no other seat was available.

    The woman also complained about being alloted a small seat used by the airline staff, by one of the senior stewardesses.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • DGCA may soon allow free travel if passengers’ tickets are downgraded

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working on an amendment in the rules wherein a passenger who is downgraded from his booked class of ticket, will be refunded the full value of ticket (including taxes) and the airline will carry the passenger free of cost in the next available class.

    “However, this proposal will go through stakeholder consultation and the final regulation shall be published and made applicable afterwards,’’ according to a statement of the DGCA.The increase in passenger traffic has often resulted in some passengers (on routes within India and on the international sectors) being downgraded involuntarily by airlines- which naturally causes a lot of discomfort for passengers.

    That has prompted the DGCA to work on this amendment in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part IV.Passengers booked on first class, business class or premium economy, are downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in due to various reasons like unserviceable seats, change of aircraft, overbooking.

    “Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights.” to protect the rights of air travelers affected by downgrading of their ticket,’’says DGCA.

    Meanwhile, the existing provisions specified in CAR provides compensation for denied Boarding, if airline has done overbooking in a flight.No compensation is offered at present if airline arranges alternate flight within one hour of original departure.

    NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working on an amendment in the rules wherein a passenger who is downgraded from his booked class of ticket, will be refunded the full value of ticket (including taxes) and the airline will carry the passenger free of cost in the next available class.

    “However, this proposal will go through stakeholder consultation and the final regulation shall be published and made applicable afterwards,’’ according to a statement of the DGCA.The increase in passenger traffic has often resulted in some passengers (on routes within India and on the international sectors) being downgraded involuntarily by airlines- which naturally causes a lot of discomfort for passengers.

    That has prompted the DGCA to work on this amendment in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part IV.Passengers booked on first class, business class or premium economy, are downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in due to various reasons like unserviceable seats, change of aircraft, overbooking.

    “Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights.” to protect the rights of air travelers affected by downgrading of their ticket,’’
    says DGCA.

    Meanwhile, the existing provisions specified in CAR provides compensation for denied Boarding, if airline has done overbooking in a flight.No compensation is offered at present if airline arranges alternate flight within one hour of original departure.

  • Govt eases rules; allows Indian carriers to wet lease wide-body planes for up to 1 yr 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has allowed Indian airlines to take wide-body planes on wet lease for up to one year as it pursues efforts to make the country a key international hub for air traffic.

    A senior ministry official on Sunday said the rules have been relaxed and airlines that seek to operate wide-body planes will be permitted to operate such aircraft on wet lease for up to one year.

    Till now, wet leasing of wide-body planes was allowed only for up to six months.

    The country’s largest airline IndiGo on Sunday said it approached the ministry and has received a communication conveying the ministry’s approval to allow Indian carriers to wet/damp lease aircraft for a period of six months extendable by another six months.

    Such relaxation shall be available to all Indian carriers on their specific request and the ministry will consider the same based on international destinations that the airline intends to operate, it said in a statement.

    “We have plans for inducting B777 aircraft on wet/damp lease basis during the current winter schedule,” the airline said, adding that it is currently working on finalising the contract for the wet/damp lease.

    Last month, aviation regulator DGCA permitted IndiGo to wet lease wide-body Boeing planes from Turkish Airlines for up to six months.

    Under the wet lease arrangement, planes are leased along with operating crew and engineers.

    The ministry official said Indian airlines that seek to operate planes on wet lease to the United States and Europe will be given permission to continue with that arrangement for up to one year.

    The ministry official said the idea of allowing wet leasing of planes for a longer period will help Indian carriers to operate more wide-body aircraft.

    Air India, which was acquired by Tata group in January this year, is being stabilised and will take more time before they acquire more wide-body planes, the official added.

    For now, Air India is dry leasing planes as it expands operations.

    With more wide-body aircraft being operated by Indian carriers, they will be able to ferry more passengers and ultimately that will help the country become a key international hub for air traffic in the coming years, the official said.

    Generally, wet leasing of planes is allowed for short periods to tackle supply constraints and ensure that airfares do not surge significantly.

    NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has allowed Indian airlines to take wide-body planes on wet lease for up to one year as it pursues efforts to make the country a key international hub for air traffic.

    A senior ministry official on Sunday said the rules have been relaxed and airlines that seek to operate wide-body planes will be permitted to operate such aircraft on wet lease for up to one year.

    Till now, wet leasing of wide-body planes was allowed only for up to six months.

    The country’s largest airline IndiGo on Sunday said it approached the ministry and has received a communication conveying the ministry’s approval to allow Indian carriers to wet/damp lease aircraft for a period of six months extendable by another six months.

    Such relaxation shall be available to all Indian carriers on their specific request and the ministry will consider the same based on international destinations that the airline intends to operate, it said in a statement.

    “We have plans for inducting B777 aircraft on wet/damp lease basis during the current winter schedule,” the airline said, adding that it is currently working on finalising the contract for the wet/damp lease.

    Last month, aviation regulator DGCA permitted IndiGo to wet lease wide-body Boeing planes from Turkish Airlines for up to six months.

    Under the wet lease arrangement, planes are leased along with operating crew and engineers.

    The ministry official said Indian airlines that seek to operate planes on wet lease to the United States and Europe will be given permission to continue with that arrangement for up to one year.

    The ministry official said the idea of allowing wet leasing of planes for a longer period will help Indian carriers to operate more wide-body aircraft.

    Air India, which was acquired by Tata group in January this year, is being stabilised and will take more time before they acquire more wide-body planes, the official added.

    For now, Air India is dry leasing planes as it expands operations.

    With more wide-body aircraft being operated by Indian carriers, they will be able to ferry more passengers and ultimately that will help the country become a key international hub for air traffic in the coming years, the official said.

    Generally, wet leasing of planes is allowed for short periods to tackle supply constraints and ensure that airfares do not surge significantly.

  • New Delhi: Bengaluru-bound IndiGo plane’s engine catches fire during take-off, grounded

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: A Bengaluru-bound IndiGo airlines flight was grounded on Friday night after a suspected fire in one of the engines at the time of taxiing at the Delhi airport. 

    A full emergency was declared at Indira Gandhi Airport after the suspected spark.

    The A320 aircraft was taxiing and an emergency was declared due to a suspected fire in one of the engines, sources said.

    Following this, the aircraft, which had more than 180 people on board, returned to the bay.

    A video on Twitter showed one of the plane’s engines on fire and sparks flying at the time of taxiing at the airport.

    A passenger, who was on board the flight, shared a video on Twitter about the “Scary experience on Delhi runway!”

    Indigo 6E 2131Scary experience on Delhi runway!This was supposed to be a take off video but this happened. #indigo pic.twitter.com/6kcKCSVLOh
    — Priyanka Kumar (@PriyankaaKumarr) October 28, 2022
    An aircraft operating flight 6E-2131 (Delhi-Bangalore) experienced a technical issue while on take-off roll, immediately after which the pilot aborted the takeoff & aircraft returned to the bay. All passengers & crew are safe & an alternate aircraft is being arranged, said a statement issued by IndiGo Airlines.

    “All passengers are being accommodated on an alternate aircraft,” the statement added.

    ALSO READ | Ace India swimmer Nataraj flays IndiGo staff for behaving with him badly, charging hefty amount

    It may be recalled that Petrus Elbers joined IndiGo as the chief executive officer (CEO) in September this year.

    As reported then by The New Indian Express, the year 2022 has been quite turbulent for India’s largest airline. In early February, the airline appointed co-founder Rahul Bhatia as managing director with immediate effect then in mid-February, co-founder Rakesh Gangwal tendered his resignation from the company’s board, giving a fresh twist to the long tussle between the two promoters. In recent times, the airline faced massive criticism following its employees’ protest over salary restoration and a section of cabin crew queuing up to join Air India that delayed a large number of its flights.  

    ALSO READ | ‘Start respecting local languages,’ KTR tells IndiGo after seat row; airline says safety protocol

    A report quoting monthly data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that prior to April, IndiGo was the most punctual airline in domestic flights. But, according to September data from DGCA, Vistara was the most punctual airline with an on-time performance of 91%, followed by AirAsia India at 89.8%, Air India at 87.1% and IndiGo trailing at 84.1%, the reported added.

    (With inputs from PTI & ANI)

    NEW DELHI: A Bengaluru-bound IndiGo airlines flight was grounded on Friday night after a suspected fire in one of the engines at the time of taxiing at the Delhi airport. 

    A full emergency was declared at Indira Gandhi Airport after the suspected spark.

    The A320 aircraft was taxiing and an emergency was declared due to a suspected fire in one of the engines, sources said.

    Following this, the aircraft, which had more than 180 people on board, returned to the bay.

    A video on Twitter showed one of the plane’s engines on fire and sparks flying at the time of taxiing at the airport.

    A passenger, who was on board the flight, shared a video on Twitter about the “Scary experience on Delhi runway!”

    Indigo 6E 2131
    Scary experience on Delhi runway!
    This was supposed to be a take off video but this happened. #indigo pic.twitter.com/6kcKCSVLOh
    — Priyanka Kumar (@PriyankaaKumarr) October 28, 2022
    An aircraft operating flight 6E-2131 (Delhi-Bangalore) experienced a technical issue while on take-off roll, immediately after which the pilot aborted the takeoff & aircraft returned to the bay. All passengers & crew are safe & an alternate aircraft is being arranged, said a statement issued by IndiGo Airlines.

    “All passengers are being accommodated on an alternate aircraft,” the statement added.

    ALSO READ | Ace India swimmer Nataraj flays IndiGo staff for behaving with him badly, charging hefty amount

    It may be recalled that Petrus Elbers joined IndiGo as the chief executive officer (CEO) in September this year.

    As reported then by The New Indian Express, the year 2022 has been quite turbulent for India’s largest airline. In early February, the airline appointed co-founder Rahul Bhatia as managing director with immediate effect then in mid-February, co-founder Rakesh Gangwal tendered his resignation from the company’s board, giving a fresh twist to the long tussle between the two promoters. In recent times, the airline faced massive criticism following its employees’ protest over salary restoration and a section of cabin crew queuing up to join Air India that delayed a large number of its flights.  

    ALSO READ | ‘Start respecting local languages,’ KTR tells IndiGo after seat row; airline says safety protocol

    A report quoting monthly data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that prior to April, IndiGo was the most punctual airline in domestic flights. But, according to September data from DGCA, Vistara was the most punctual airline with an on-time performance of 91%, followed by AirAsia India at 89.8%, Air India at 87.1% and IndiGo trailing at 84.1%, the reported added.

    (With inputs from PTI & ANI)

  • AAIB, DGCA teams to probe Uttarakhand helicopter crash 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Teams of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and aviation regulator DGCA will be probing the helicopter crash near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand that killed seven pilgrims on Tuesday, according to a senior official.

    The operator of the ill-fated helicopter – Aryan Aviation – had come under the regulatory scanner and was fined Rs 5 lakh recently by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for certain violations.

    The senior DGCA official said the teams of AAIB and DGCA have already left for the site.

    It is an accident as per the classification of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and AAIB will be probing the case, the official added.

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will also be investigating the accident.

    The chopper – Bell 407 (VT-RPN) – operated by Aryan Aviation burst into flames at around 11.45 am at Dev Darshini in Garud Chatti, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh said.

    NEW DELHI: Teams of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and aviation regulator DGCA will be probing the helicopter crash near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand that killed seven pilgrims on Tuesday, according to a senior official.

    The operator of the ill-fated helicopter – Aryan Aviation – had come under the regulatory scanner and was fined Rs 5 lakh recently by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for certain violations.

    The senior DGCA official said the teams of AAIB and DGCA have already left for the site.

    It is an accident as per the classification of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and AAIB will be probing the case, the official added.

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will also be investigating the accident.

    The chopper – Bell 407 (VT-RPN) – operated by Aryan Aviation burst into flames at around 11.45 am at Dev Darshini in Garud Chatti, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh said.

  • DGCA directs SpiceJet to get engine oil samples of entire Q400 fleet examined

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Following a recent incident of smoke in a SpiceJet plane cabin, the aviation regulator DGCA has directed the airline to send the engine oil samples of the entire Q400 fleet consisting of 14 operational aircraft to Pratt & Whitney Canada to ascertain the presence of metal and carbon seat particles.

    Moreover, the DGCA has also directed SpiceJet for inspection of bleed-off valve screen and housing for evidence of oil wetness.

    DGCA had initiated the probe after a SpiceJet flight made an emergency landing at Hyderabad airport after smoke was detected in the cabin on October 12.

    In light of the above incident and also a similar incident in the recent past involving PWC 150 A engine, which had also shop visited Standard Aero-Singapore for overhaul, SpiceJet was directed that that no engine shall be sent to Standard Aero-Singapore till the investigation is completed.

    DGCA has directed that engine oil samples be periodically drawn every 15 days instead of presently 30 days and sent to Pratt & Whitney Canada to ascertain presence of metal and carbon seal particles.

    It also directed one time Boroscopic inspection of all operational engines within one week and completion of the inspection on three engines, which have been received from Standard Aero, Singapore by Monday night.

    It also asked the airline to introduce inspection of bleed off valve screen and housing for evidence of oil wetness during every weekly check.

    DGCA also asked for an immediate inspection of magnetic chip detectors for the presence of any metal particles on reporting of fault in the central display system, which otherwise is a class 2 fault and calls for inspection within the next 65 flight hours. In case of detection of any metal particles, boroscopic inspection of the engine shall be carried out prior to the release of aircraft, said the DGCA.

    DGCA said that it is keeping a close watch on the situation and will take all appropriate action to avert any untoward incident.

    NEW DELHI: Following a recent incident of smoke in a SpiceJet plane cabin, the aviation regulator DGCA has directed the airline to send the engine oil samples of the entire Q400 fleet consisting of 14 operational aircraft to Pratt & Whitney Canada to ascertain the presence of metal and carbon seat particles.

    Moreover, the DGCA has also directed SpiceJet for inspection of bleed-off valve screen and housing for evidence of oil wetness.

    DGCA had initiated the probe after a SpiceJet flight made an emergency landing at Hyderabad airport after smoke was detected in the cabin on October 12.

    In light of the above incident and also a similar incident in the recent past involving PWC 150 A engine, which had also shop visited Standard Aero-Singapore for overhaul, SpiceJet was directed that that no engine shall be sent to Standard Aero-Singapore till the investigation is completed.

    DGCA has directed that engine oil samples be periodically drawn every 15 days instead of presently 30 days and sent to Pratt & Whitney Canada to ascertain presence of metal and carbon seal particles.

    It also directed one time Boroscopic inspection of all operational engines within one week and completion of the inspection on three engines, which have been received from Standard Aero, Singapore by Monday night.

    It also asked the airline to introduce inspection of bleed off valve screen and housing for evidence of oil wetness during every weekly check.

    DGCA also asked for an immediate inspection of magnetic chip detectors for the presence of any metal particles on reporting of fault in the central display system, which otherwise is a class 2 fault and calls for inspection within the next 65 flight hours. In case of detection of any metal particles, boroscopic inspection of the engine shall be carried out prior to the release of aircraft, said the DGCA.

    DGCA said that it is keeping a close watch on the situation and will take all appropriate action to avert any untoward incident.