A PIL filed in the Supreme Court after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad demands grounding of all Boeing aircraft. The petitioner seeks a full safety audit and insists planes fly only after passing inspection within two weeks.
After the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking the temporary suspension of Air India’s Boeing fleet.
The plea calls for a comprehensive safety audit and suggests that all Boeing aircraft operated by the airline should be grounded until they successfully clear an inspection within two weeks.
The PIL alleges non-compliance with the Aircraft Act, Aircraft Rules, and Civil Aviation Requirements for commercial flights. Besides Air India, the PIL names the central government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as respondents.
The petitioner urges the SC to direct the government to establish new guidelines for Air India and other airlines, emphasizing the need for rigorous and regular inspections of cabin equipment, engines, and airframes.
In the wake of the AI 171 crash, the Boeing Dreamliner fleet of Air India has been undergoing safety audits. The DGCA confirmed that, as of June 17, 24 out of 33 Dreamliner aircraft in Air India’s fleet had successfully passed safety checks.
DGCA stated,
“Recent surveillance conducted on Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns. The aircraft and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards.”
Air India also confirmed that inspections on 26 aircraft have been completed and cleared for service, while the remaining planes are undergoing planned maintenance, with additional checks scheduled before re-entering service.
They added,
“Following the review, the DGCA has confirmed that our Boeing 787 fleet and maintenance processes fully meet safety standards.”
The petition additionally calls for the DGCA to conduct unannounced audits of Air India and other airlines’ fleets, with audit findings made public and penalties imposed for any violations of applicable regulations.
Moreover, the petition refers to whistle-blower reports regarding Boeing and its manufacturing practices, advocating for stringent and scientific evaluations of all aircraft operating in India.
Citing social media and media reports detailing passenger complaints about seating, air conditioning, and in-flight entertainment, the petitioner insisted that any aircraft with even minor discrepancies should be immediately removed from service.
The petitioner also shared a personal account of their experience on an Air India business class flight from Delhi to Chicago, noting that the seats did not recline, the in-flight entertainment systems were malfunctioning, and the air conditioning was ineffective.
They mentioned the airline’s “meagre” compensation of Rs.10,000 in response to these issues.
The PIL has been filed by Supreme Court Advocate Ajan Bansal.