Aviation: Action against Akasa air pilot for default; IndiGo to challenge Customs fine

New Delhi| The aviation regulator (DGCA) has taken action against the pilot of Akasa Air. The action is due to a lapse in landing of a passenger plane in March 2024. According to sources, the approval of the Line Training Captain given to the pilot by DGCA has been withdrawn till further orders. Apart from this, permission to the pilot to perform Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) has also been withdrawn. The omission is a part of Akasa Air’s regulatory investigation.

On the other hand, Customs has imposed a fine of 2.17 crore on Indigo Airlines. The company is opposing this order of the department, and will challenge it. According to a regulatory filing, this penalty has been imposed after refusing to grant duty exemption on import of aircraft parts.

In an order issued, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that an audit of Akasa Air was conducted in October last year, which revealed hard landing by the pilot. This means that the plane hit the runway abnormally. The order said that the incident was closed with the counseling session. Along with this, no corrective training was given to the concerned pilot.

The DGCA found that the information provided by the airline and the pilot in response to the show cause notice sent in November 2024 was not satisfactory. Therefore, it has been decided to withdraw the Line Training Captain (LTC) and STOL privileges of the pilot with immediate effect. The pilot is also instructed to perform a two-hour simulator session for corrective training, noting the dangers of flare, touchdown, missed approaches, and cancelling go-arounds. However, no immediate response has been given by Akasa Air on this.

Last month, the DGCA had ordered the suspension of the Director of Operations and Director of Training of Akasa Air for six months for deficiencies in the training of pilots. The move was made after some pilots raised training and safety issues, which the airline said were unfounded. In addition, the DGCA also fined Akasa Air Rs 30 lakh in October for lapses in crew training. Indigo Airlines reported on Monday that Customs had fined it Rs 2.17 crore, and the company would challenge the order.

IndiGo said it would oppose the order before the appropriate appellate authority and also pointed out that ‘it has not had any significant impact on the financial position, operations or other activities of the company’