The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped Air India with a fine of $110,350 (approximately Rs 1 crore) for flying an Airbus plane eight times without an airworthiness permit, as per an order.
The civil aviation watchdog told Air India CEO Campbell Wilson that the episode has "further eroded public confidence and adversely impacted the safety compliance of the organisation." The fine has to be deposited within 30 days.
Referring to the CEO, DGCA joint director Maneesh Kumar wrote that the "accountable manager on behalf of Air India is found blameworthy for the above lapses."
Air India's Airbus A320 flew passengers eight times, including destinations like Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad on November 24 and 25. This was done without the mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC).
The DGCA issues airworthiness permit every year based on safety and compliance checks on an aircraft.
The order also reportedly blamed the pilots who flew the eight flights, saying they did not follow standard operating procedures before takeoff.