Air India Pilots' Brazen Move: Flying Without Licenses Sparks Safety Outrage

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Scheduling and rostering problems have resurfaced at Air India. Five months after being reprimanded by regulator DGCA, the airline has yet to fully resolve the issue. In the latest incident, a senior captain and a co-pilot have been removed from flight duties.

Passengers' lives put at risk! Two Air India pilots flew a plane despite not having a license, causing an uproar : Investigation revealed that both had operated the flight last month - while in one case the pilot's English Language Proficiency (ELP) license had expired, and in the other the co-pilot had not passed the bi-annual Pilot Proficiency Check (PPC) i.e. Instrument Rating Test. According to sources, the Airbus A320 co-pilot flew the flight without undergoing mandatory corrective training despite unsatisfactory performance in the training check. Air India said, as soon as the lapse was noticed, the pilot and crew scheduler were off-rostered. Further action has been initiated and a report has been sent to DGCA.

In the second case, a senior commander operated a flight with an expired ELP. Air India confirmed the incident, stating that the pilot has been off-rostered and an investigation has been initiated. Senior pilots say these incidents raise serious questions about the airline's operational oversight and safety protocols. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has requested a detailed report from Air India.