Were Air India Cabin Crew Dismissed for Falsifying Information?
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Synopsis
Air India has dismissed two senior flight attendants for allegedly falsifying information regarding a technical malfunction on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This incident raises questions about accountability and integrity within the airline industry. What are the implications of such actions?
Key Takeaways
- Two Air India flight attendants were terminated for misconduct.
- The investigation revealed falsification of information.
- The incident involved a technical issue with a Boeing 787.
- Air India emphasized the need for integrity in safety protocols.
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation is monitoring the situation closely.
New Delhi, June 20 (NationPress) Following a report indicating that two senior flight attendants from Air India were dismissed for refusing to alter their statements regarding a technical malfunction in the door of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner last year, the airline announced on Friday that these cabin crew members were terminated due to their misconduct and behavior, which included continuously falsifying critical information during the investigation process.
According to Air India's statement to IANS, the investigation was initiated after an emergency slide was activated upon opening the aircraft door after landing.
The media report stated that the two former flight attendants claimed that the Boeing Dreamliner's door had experienced a malfunction, resulting in the slide raft deploying, even though the door was opened in manual mode.
Slide rafts are designed to deploy when a door is opened in armed or automatic mode, as reported.
This incident reportedly took place on May 14 of the previous year, right after the Mumbai-London flight AI-129 arrived at Heathrow airport and passengers had exited the aircraft.
Air India emphasized that the two former employees were provided multiple opportunities to reassess their statements, which may have been made unintentionally, according to the findings of the investigations.
“The investigation findings clearly indicated that the slide could not have been activated unless the door was in disarmed/manual mode. This conclusion was supported by pertinent data, images, video evidence, and expert testimony from third parties,” the airline's statement read.
Additionally, it stated, “It is unfortunate that the former cabin crew members are leveraging the tragedy of AI171 to perpetuate their falsehoods, which have been conclusively disproven in our investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified that no decision has been made regarding sending the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) or the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) from the crashed AI171 flight for retrieval and analysis.
The Ministry urged all stakeholders to “refrain from speculation on such sensitive issues and allow the investigation to proceed with the necessary seriousness and professionalism.”
Point of View
It is crucial to ensure that the facts are presented without bias. The Air India incident highlights important issues of accountability and investigation procedures within the aviation industry, necessitating transparency and adherence to protocols during such inquiries.
NationPress
20/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What led to the termination of the Air India cabin crew members?
The termination was due to allegations of misconduct, specifically for falsifying critical information during an investigation related to a technical issue with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
What was the incident involving the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
The incident involved the activation of an emergency slide while the aircraft door was opened after landing, prompting an investigation into the actions of the flight attendants.
What does Air India state regarding the investigation findings?
Air India stated that evidence from the investigation indicated that the slide could not have been activated unless the door was in disarmed/manual mode, which was supported by data and expert analysis.
What has the Ministry of Civil Aviation said about related investigations?
The Ministry clarified that no decisions have been made regarding sending the cockpit voice recorder or digital flight data recorder from the crashed AI171 flight for analysis and urged stakeholders to avoid speculation.
How can the public ensure accountability in the aviation industry?
Public awareness and transparency in investigation processes are key to ensuring accountability in the aviation sector, as is the need for regulatory bodies to uphold rigorous safety standards.
