India Aviation Regulator Finds Recurring Aircraft Defects at Major Airports
India's aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has revealed the unsettling discovery of recurring defects on aircraft operating from Mumbai and Delhi airports.
This revelation emerged from a special audit initiated to bolster safety protocols following a fatal Air India crash earlier in June, which tragically claimed 271 lives.
Key Findings of the Audit
The DGCA's audit uncovered multiple instances where the same aircraft defects reappeared, suggesting inadequate maintenance checks.
While the regulator refrained from naming specific airlines or detailing the exact nature of the defects, it highlighted that these recurring issues point towards "ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action."
Other violations included engineers neglecting safety protocols and failure to address or properly document maintenance work.
The DGCA also cited instances where required surveys were not conducted near construction sites, a concerning lapse given the recent Air India crash.
Corrective Measures
The findings have been shared with the concerned operators, who have been given seven days to implement corrective measures.
Post the June 12 crash, the DGCA had ordered thorough inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet, which reportedly did not reveal major safety concerns.
A planned DGCA visit to Air India's headquarters for an annual audit was postponed due to the airline addressing airspace closures caused by the Israel-Iran conflict.