'Very serious': Air India warned by country's aviation regulator for breaching safety rules days before mass casualty disaster
Air India was warned for breaching safety rules by the country's aviation regulator before it made global headlines following a mass casualty disaster.
Flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad en route to London's Gatwick Airport last Thursday.
According to government documents, planes flew despite being overdue checks on emergency equipment and for being slow to address the issue.
While the warning notices, as well as an investigation report, were not in any way related to last week's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed everyone onboard except one man, they were sent days before the catastrophic incident.
In the report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said spot checks in May on three Air India Airbus planes found that they were operated despite mandatory inspections being overdue on the "critical emergency equipment" of escape slides.
In one case, the watchdog found the inspection of an Airbus A320 jet was delayed by more than a month before being carried out on May 15. AirNav Radar data shows that during the delay the plane flew to international destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah.
Another case, involving an Airbus A319 used on domestic routes, showed checks were over three months late, while a third showed an inspection was two days late.
"The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements," the DGCA report said.
Air India "failed to submit timely compliance responses" to deficiencies raised by the DGCA, "further evidencing weak procedural control and oversight," it added.
Checks on escape slides are "a very serious issue and "in case of accident, if they don't open, it can lead to serious injuries," said Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The DGCA said in its report the certificates of airworthiness for aircraft that miss mandatory checks were "deemed suspended".
An Indian aviation lawyer said such breaches typically attract monetary and civil penalties on both individual executives and the airline.
The sole survivor of the Air India crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, has since attended his brother's funeral in the western Indian coastal town of Diu on Wednesday.
Ramesh, grief-stricken, had just left hospital and had bandages on his face from the cuts and bruises sustained from the crash which killed 241 people on board, including dozens on land.
Funerals have taken place in Ahmedabad for the victims of the crash, with scores of heartbroken relatives farewelling family members and friends who tragically perished.
-with Reuters
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Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Very serious': Air India warned by country's aviation regulator for breaching safety rules days before mass casualty disaster
Air India was warned for breaching safety rules by the country's aviation regulator before it made global headlines following a mass casualty disaster. Flight AI171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad en route to London's Gatwick Airport last Thursday. According to government documents, planes flew despite being overdue checks on emergency equipment and for being slow to address the issue. While the warning notices, as well as an investigation report, were not in any way related to last week's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed everyone onboard except one man, they were sent days before the catastrophic incident. In the report, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said spot checks in May on three Air India Airbus planes found that they were operated despite mandatory inspections being overdue on the "critical emergency equipment" of escape slides. In one case, the watchdog found the inspection of an Airbus A320 jet was delayed by more than a month before being carried out on May 15. AirNav Radar data shows that during the delay the plane flew to international destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. Another case, involving an Airbus A319 used on domestic routes, showed checks were over three months late, while a third showed an inspection was two days late. "The above cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements," the DGCA report said. Air India "failed to submit timely compliance responses" to deficiencies raised by the DGCA, "further evidencing weak procedural control and oversight," it added. Checks on escape slides are "a very serious issue and "in case of accident, if they don't open, it can lead to serious injuries," said Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the government's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The DGCA said in its report the certificates of airworthiness for aircraft that miss mandatory checks were "deemed suspended". An Indian aviation lawyer said such breaches typically attract monetary and civil penalties on both individual executives and the airline. The sole survivor of the Air India crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, has since attended his brother's funeral in the western Indian coastal town of Diu on Wednesday. Ramesh, grief-stricken, had just left hospital and had bandages on his face from the cuts and bruises sustained from the crash which killed 241 people on board, including dozens on land. Funerals have taken place in Ahmedabad for the victims of the crash, with scores of heartbroken relatives farewelling family members and friends who tragically perished. -with Reuters
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- The Advertiser
Air India black box recovered as toll climbs to 270
The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters The flight data recorder from the crashed Air India flight has been recovered as the death toll climbed to at least 270 people with recovery teams continuing to scour the site of one of India's worst aviation disasters. The London-bound Boeing 787 struck a medical college hostel when the plane came down shortly after take-off on Thursday in a residential area of the northwestern city of Ahmedabad. Dr Dhaval Gameti at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad confirmed the facility had received 270 bodies, adding the lone surviving passenger was still under observation for some of his wounds. "He is doing very well and will be ready to be discharged anytime soon," Gameti said on Saturday. The plane's digital flight data recorder, or black box, was recovered from a rooftop near the crash site and India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said it had begun its work with "full force". The black box recovery marked an important step forward in the investigation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a social media post. The device would reveal information about the engine and control settings, as well as what the voice recorder would show about the cockpit conversations, Paul Fromme, a mechanical engineer with the UK-based Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a statement. "This should show quickly if there was a loss of engine power or lift after take-off and allow a preliminary determination of the likely cause for the crash," said Fromme, who heads the professional association's Aerospace Division. Separately, the country's civil aviation regulator ordered Air India to conduct additional inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with General Electric's GEnx engines. At least five people were were killed on the ground and about 50 injured, but many more victims victims were expected to be found in the search of the crash site. DNA testing was being conducted to identify bodies that were mostly charred beyond recognition. The plane hit a building hosting a medical college hostel and burst into flames, killing several students, in the city that is the capital of Gujarat, Narendra Modi's home state. "We are all devastated by the air tragedy in Ahmedabad. The loss of so many lives in such a sudden and heartbreaking manner is beyond words," the Indian prime minister said on social media after visiting the site. The survivor met Modi at the government hospital where he was being treated for burns and other injuries. Viswashkumar Ramesh told India's national broadcaster that he still could not believe he was alive. He said the aircraft seemed to become stuck immediately after take-off. He said the lights then came on, and right after that it accelerated but seemed unable to gain height before it crashed. He said the side of the plane where he was seated fell onto the ground floor of a building and there was space for him to escape after the door broke open. He unfastened his seat belt and forced himself out of the plane. "When I opened my eyes, I realised I was alive," he said. US participants in the investigation will include people from the NTSB, FAA, Boeing and General Electric. Thursday's Air India crash involved a 12-year-old Boeing 787. Boeing planes have been plagued by safety issues on other types of aircraft. According to experts, there are about 1200 of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft worldwide and this was the first deadly crash in 16 years of operation. with Reuters
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Nothing worked': Haunting video hours before Air India crash
Shocking footage showed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's interior with defective TV screens and 'no air conditioning at all' when it flew from Delhi to Ahmedadbad – two hours prior to the horror smash. Air India Flight AI171 was en route to London Gatwick when it crashed into a hostel used by doctors on Thursday. It had 242 people on board, including 53 Brits and 11 children. So far, 204 bodies have been recovered, and one Brit is believed to have survived. On X, Akash Vasta claimed that he had flown on the very same aircraft just two hours before it crashed. He posted horrifying footage which showed many parts of the plane not functioning properly during its second last ever flight. He said on X: 'I was in the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD.' The shocked passenger added that he had 'noticed unusual things' in the plane which he suggested may have been telltale signs that it was defective. In the concerning footage, he can be heard saying: 'The AC is not working at all. And as usual, your TV screens are also not working, neither this button for calling the cabin crew.' He said: 'Nothing is working. Nothing! Not even the light is working.' The worried passenger asked: 'Is this what you are providing?' He also complained that he was 'sweating like hell' due to the lack of AC, and stated that this was why 'Air India is considered one of the worst airlines in the world'. It comes as one 40-year-old Brit, Ajay Kumar Vishwash, claimed that he cheated death after jumping off the flaming Air India jet before it crashed. Unbelievable footage showed Vishwash walking away from what is understood to be the crash site of the doomed Air India flight to London Gatwick. Vishwash, who still had his boarding pass, told Hindustan Times: '30 seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.' Full harrowing CCTV footage has also now shown the Boeing 787 taking off before appearing to lose power in Ahmedabad in the west of India. The plane was flying to London Gatwick Airport and was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. Video showed the plane taxing down the runway before taking off at around 1.38pm local time from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. It also showed the plane take to the sky – before it appears to stop climbing and then plummet back down to earth. The flight then crashed in a fireball into a doctor's hostel. Police are now hunting through the rubble and wreckage for any survivors. According to flight tracking website Flightradar, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner's final signal was received just seconds after takeoff. This was last logged at 1:38pm local time – less than a minute after it started the journey. It had only reached 625ft at the time, officials believe. In a statement the airline said: 'Flight AI171, operating Ahmedabad-London Gatwick was involved in an accident on 12 June 2025.' 'At this moment, we are ascertaining the details and will share further updates at the earliest opportunity.' Out of the 242 on board, 169 were Indian travellers, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals alongside the Brits.
