Should Air India's Boeing Aircraft Operations Be Suspended?

New Delhi, June 24 (NationPress) A public interest litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Supreme Court seeking the suspension of Air India's Boeing aircraft operations until a thorough safety audit is conducted, especially following the recent crash in Ahmedabad and ongoing maintenance issues.

The petition, initiated by advocate Ajay Bansal, requests the Centre, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to immediately ground all Air India aircraft, and any other aircraft not meeting the required operational standards for international passenger service, until all identified issues are addressed.

Additionally, the PIL demands that the DGCA carry out surprise audits of Air India’s fleet and other airlines operating in the country, with a public disclosure of the findings and swift corrective actions or penalties for any non-compliance.

The petition calls for the establishment of new mandatory guidelines for Air India and other airlines, which would require rigorous and regular functional checks of all cabin equipment, engines, airframes, and related systems in line with global best practices.

The petitioner appeals to the Supreme Court to evaluate the necessity of both immediate and long-term measures to safeguard the rights and lives of Indian citizens, which are jeopardized by airlines operating aircraft that do not meet necessary safety and scientific standards.

The petitioner referenced a media report from 2023 that revealed shortcomings in Air India’s internal safety audits, posing significant risks to air passengers and the general public. He recounted his recent experience on an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago in business class, where the in-flight entertainment system was completely non-functional, and the seat's mechanical functions were faulty.

"The recent tragic incident involving an Air India Boeing aircraft on the Ahmedabad–London route has intensified the petitioner’s concerns, especially given the numerous videos circulating on social media highlighting widespread malfunctions of cabin systems and poor service prior to the accident," the petition stated.

It emphasized that the crash on June 12, combined with the petitioner’s own adverse experience, has severely undermined confidence in Air India’s safety, reliability, and service quality.

On Monday, an eight-member DGCA team commenced a comprehensive audit of Air India’s primary base in Gurugram, as part of a wider special safety inspection initiative across the Indian aviation sector.