Air India's Boeing Fleet Needs Suspension after Crash Incident, Petitioned by PIL in Supreme Court
Title: Call for Grounding of Boeing Aircraft in Air India's Fleet Following Tragedy
Amidst chaos and calls for safety, a heated debate has erupted over the operations of Boeing aircraft in Air India's fleet. The fuel for the fire was sparked by a horrific crash that claimed the lives of 270 souls, leaving the nation stunned and seeking answers.
In a bold move, a public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, urging the suspension of all Boeing aircraft operations for two weeks, until a thorough safety audit is completed. The petition demands stringent checks on all cabin equipment, engines, airframes, and ancillary systems, aligning with international safety standards.
According to the plea, the authorities, particularly the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), should conduct unannounced audits on the entire Boeing fleet, with full disclosure of findings and swift implementation of corrective measures or penalties for non-compliance.
The Centre, DGCA, Air India Limited, and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) have been made parties to this litigation. The petition also insists on stringent security measures, scientific checks on all aircraft operating in India, and immediate grounding of aircraft found unfit for service until rectification and re-certification are carried out.
The petitioner, advocate Ajay Bansal, cites personal experience as evidence. On his business class journey on AI 127 (Delhi-Chicago) on May 20, he and his wife encountered several issues, such as faulty seats, inoperable in-flight entertainment, and malfunctioning air-conditioning. The pair lodged a complaint with Air India, but the airline only partially admitted fault and offered a compensation of Rs 10,000, the petition states.
The plea asserts that such service lapses are not isolated incidents, with seats failing to recline properly, inoperable seat-back entertainment systems, and broken air-conditioning systems. The issue of airworthiness has never been more critical, adding urgency to the call for action.
The DGCA, following the crash, conducted a special audit, revealing numerous maintenance lapses and systemic problems in airlines and airport operations. The audit uncovered recurring defects in aircraft maintenance, inadequate monitoring and correction of technical snags, broken ground-handling equipment, and procedural failures. For instance, maintenance engineers ignored safety precautions, and defect reports were not recorded properly in technical logbooks.
In fact, as of mid-June, Indian authorities stated there were "no major safety concerns" regarding Air India's Boeing 787 fleet. However, recent developments, including the Supreme Court PIL and the audit findings, have prompted a reevaluation of this stance.
The PIL and the ensuing audit measures aim to tighten safety oversight procedures, ensuring the skies remain secure and incident-free. A call for transparency, accountability, and a renewed focus on safety has become the voice of the nation in these trying times.
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/air-india-lawyer-files-pil-in-supreme-court-seeking-suspension-of-flights-after-tragic-crash/article64879104.ece[2] https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/dgca-finds-multiple-maintenance-lapses-in-airlines-and-airport-operations-post-crash-of-air-indias-dreamliner/724854[3] https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-seeks-more-time-from-sc-to- respond-to-pil- asking- for-suspension-of-dreamliner-flights/story-uvkgFPIcE9qe0gtSpAmJnL.html[4] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-india-accused-of-not-addressing-maintenance-lapses-safety-issues-of-boeing-787-dreamliners-posts-crash- of-one-of-them-2548796[5] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/airlines-and-aviation/no-major-safety-concerns- with-air-india-boeing-787- fleet-officials-say- after-crash/articleshow/76300628.cms
Industry stakeholders and financial analysts are closely monitoring the situation, weighing the potential impact on the aviation sector and overall transportation industry following the Supreme Court petition seeking a suspension of Boeing aircraft operations in Air India's fleet. The unfolding events could lead to significant financial repercussions, as any grounding of aircraft might create disruptions in scheduling and route planning, potentially resulting in loss of passenger confidence and revenue.
