What More Challenges Await Air India Amid CBI Probe Demand?
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Synopsis
Air India is under scrutiny as the Aviation Industry Employees’ Guild calls for a CBI investigation into the dismissal of two cabin crew members who flagged technical issues in a Dreamliner. The situation escalated after a tragic crash, raising concerns about aviation safety and management practices. Will the Prime Minister respond to these urgent calls?
Key Takeaways
- Air India is facing scrutiny over crew terminations.
- Demands for a CBI probe have surfaced.
- Technical faults with Dreamliner aircraft are under investigation.
- Safety concerns in aviation practices have been raised.
- Call for government intervention highlights public interest.
New Delhi, June 20 (NationPress) Air India is currently facing significant challenges following the tragic AI 171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner incident that resulted in the loss of at least 270 lives, including 241 passengers and crew. On Friday, the Aviation Industry Employees’ Guild (AIEG) intensified its demands for a CBI investigation into the dismissal of two cabin crew members who reported a technical issue with the aircraft last year.
AIEG General Secretary, George Abraham, informed IANS that they are advocating for a CBI inquiry into the termination of the two crew members, as this situation arises after alleged pressure from Air India to modify their statements regarding a technical fault in the Dreamliner 787.
He stated, “This endangers the safety of the aviation sector. We have also communicated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging a proper investigation into this matter.” Abraham went on to explain that on May 14, 2024, after an Air India flight from Mumbai to London landed, the slide rafts deployed in manual mode due to a malfunctioning door.
According to Abraham, slide rafts should only activate when the plane is in automatic mode. The pilot and all cabin crew initially acknowledged the technical fault but later altered their statements under alleged pressure from Air India management.
Abraham emphasized that to conceal the technical issue, Air India management purportedly coerced the crew members to amend their statements, leading to their dismissal when they resisted.
Abraham further stated that the severity of the situation prompted both crew members to report the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which summoned them to Delhi for an informal investigation. However, he noted that eight months have passed without any results from this investigation.
Following the recent tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, public and governmental attention has turned back to this issue. “We have raised this concern again and reached out to PM Modi, hoping for expedited action,” he added.
In a statement to IANS, Air India clarified that the cabin crew members were terminated due to misconduct and for continuously providing false information during the investigation.
“The investigation was initiated following the activation of an emergency slide while opening the aircraft door post-landing,” Air India stated.
Slide rafts are designed to deploy only when a door is opened in “armed” or “automatic mode.” The crew contended that the Dreamliner's door malfunctioned, causing the slide raft to deploy while the door was opened in manual mode.
This incident reportedly occurred on May 14 last year, after flight AI-129 from Mumbai docked at Heathrow airport and passengers disembarked.
The two dismissed senior cabin crew members have submitted a letter to PM Modi, claiming wrongful termination after they raised concerns about technical issues in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The letter alleged, “The accident was imminent as our many warnings regarding technical defects in the aircraft were ignored by Air India Ltd management and the DGCA.”
The crew asserted that their warnings about aircraft defects, particularly a 2024 incident involving Dreamliner VT-ANQ, were disregarded. However, they claimed that they were later pressured to alter their statements, resulting in their dismissal without a proper inquiry.
“We fail to understand why the DGCA sought an informal discussion instead of a comprehensive investigation into such a serious issue concerning passenger and crew safety,” the letter stated.
Describing it as their “last hope,” the crew is requesting the Prime Minister’s intervention to reinstate them and investigate the Dreamliner’s safety record.
Point of View
It is imperative to approach this issue with a commitment to transparency and accountability. The demands for an investigation into Air India's practices must be taken seriously to ensure the safety of the flying public. It's crucial to have a thorough inquiry into the alleged suppression of safety concerns by airline management.
NationPress
20/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the cabin crew members terminated?
The cabin crew members were terminated for alleged misconduct and for providing misleading information during an investigation regarding a technical fault in the aircraft.
What is the Aviation Industry Employees’ Guild asking for?
The AIEG is demanding a CBI probe into the termination of the cabin crew members, citing safety concerns and pressure from Air India management.
What incident prompted this demand?
The demand follows a tragic crash involving Air India’s AI 171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner that resulted in significant loss of life.
What was the technical fault reported?
The crew reported a malfunction with the aircraft's door that caused slide rafts to deploy in manual mode instead of automatic mode.
Has there been any response from the DGCA?
The DGCA has conducted an informal investigation, but no results have been shared with the public after eight months.
