A Tale of Termination: Senior Air India Crew Allege Wrongful Dismissal
"A year prior to the AI171 crash: Dismissed Air India crew claim concealed Boeing 787 door malfunction"
In an unusual turn of events, two veteran flight attendants from Air India have penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the airline of retaliation for reporting a technical glitch. The issue at hand? An unexpected deployment of an emergency slide raft on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight AI-129) following its landing at Heathrow Airport on May 14, 2024.
The crew members allege that the slide raft deployed even though the door was opened in manual mode, which typically should not trigger deployment. This anomaly, they claim, happened after the passengers had disembarked, with initial support for the malfunction coming from both the commander and cabin-in-charge. However, when they insisted the door had indeed been in manual mode, they were allegedly pressured to revise their statements – pressure they refused.
The letter, addressed to the Prime Minister, claims that the duo was threatened with termination and eventually dismissed within 48 hours. The termination, they note, occurred exactly one year before the catastrophic crash of Flight AI171, which claimed the lives of 272 people.
The flight attendants have further leveled allegations against both Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), asserting that they have been complicit in suppressing similar incidents involving Dreamliner aircraft. They allege that despite filing a complaint with the Central Vigilance Commission, an informal inquiry was the best they managed, and no report has been made public. Key eyewitnesses were also excluded from the investigation.
Air India and the DGCA have yet to respond publicly to these allegations as of now.
In the Airline's Defense:
In a five-point response to concerns about Flight AI171 and high cancellations, Air India stated that additional checks may impact the schedule. In relation to the slide raft incident, Air India maintained that the emergency slide could not have been activated unless the door was in armed mode. The airline said the two crew members were given multiple opportunities to reconsider their statements but continued to provide what Air India describes as false information. Consequently, they were terminated for "misconduct and behavior" including "falsifying critical information" during the investigation.
Looking Ahead:
The termination of these two flight attendants and the subsequent allegations have garnered significant media attention and intensified scrutiny of aviation safety and whistleblower treatment within the airline. The attention also sheds light on a potentially distressing trend: stifling the voices of those who report technical issues.
[1] "Two senior former Air India flight attendants write to PM alleging termination for reporting malfunction" - Times of India[2] "Air India issues 5-point defence on AI 171 tragedy and high cancellations; 'additional checks to impact schedule'" - The Hindu[3] "Air India gets DGCA warning for flying Airbus planes overdue for emergency equipment inspections: Report" - India Today[4] "air india boeing 787 door problem" - Encyclopedia Britannica[5] "air accident investigation report: Air India flight AI171" - Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) website
An informal, reader-friendly take on a technical incident in the aviation industry that raises questions about whistleblower protection and safety protocols within Air India. The article is based on enrichment data focusing on the airline's defense and allegations, future implications, and relevant sources.
- The finance industry might see increased investments inaviation safety technology, as the alleged mishandling of a technical glitch by Air India raises questions about the airline's commitment to maintaining flight safety.
- The market for decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms could potentially benefit from this aviation controversy, as concerned investors may seek alternative channels for their travel-related investments.
- The general news industry is abuzz with the latest developments in the Air India saga, with news outlets covering the termination of two veteran flight attendants and subsequent allegations of wrongdoing and suppression of technical issues.
- Recent accidents in the aviation industry have brought attention to the crime-and-justice sector, as investigative bodies examine whether similar situations may be linked to improper handling of safety issues.
- In the transportation sector, there have been demands for enhanced oversight and accountability mechanisms, following the termination of two flight attendants who reported a technical malfunction and the subsequent allegations against Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
