India regulator asks Air India for training data of pilots, dispatcher of crashed plane

NEW DELHI: India's aviation safety watchdog has asked Air India for the training records of the pilots and dispatcher for the plane that crashed last week as part of its investigation into the incident that killed at least 271 people, government memos showed.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also asked all flying schools to conduct training compliance checks, according to the confidential memos, seen by Reuters.
The DGCA said the requests were part of a 'regulatory' review of the accident, and also sought details of action taken following the watchdog's audits of Air India in the last few months. It asked for the details to be provided by Monday.
It was not clear whether Air India had complied with the directive. The airline and the DGCA did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London with 242 people on board began losing height seconds after take-off in Ahmedabad on Thursday before crashing into nearby buildings. Everyone on board was killed, bar a single passenger, along with about 30 on the ground.
Sumeet Sabharwal, who the Indian government has said had 8,200 flying hours of experience and was also an Air India instructor, was the commanding pilot of flight AI171. His co-pilot was Clive Kunder who had 1,100 hours of experience. Sabharwal's funeral took place in Mumbai on Tuesday.
The watchdog requested for training details and supporting documents for the pilots, as well as for the flight dispatcher. The memo did not elaborate on the type of documents required, but accident investigations commonly look at a crew's training and qualifications, flight history, medical records and any actions previously taken against them.
Air India Dreamliner returns to Hong Kong after technical issue mid-air, source says
The memo did not raise any concerns with Air India's operations and some of the requests are standard in the aftermath of a major incident.
Dispatchers are DGCA-certified ground-based airline employees whose role includes flight planning, assessing weather and airspace conditions, and coordination with the pilots.
While the request for pilot training data was sent by the DGCA, the accident investigation is being led by another wing of the aviation ministry, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
Air India's Chairman N. Chandrasekaran told staff on Monday the incident should be a catalyst to build a safer airline.
The DGCA, through a separate memo dated June 16, also asked flying schools across the country to 'strictly follow additional safety and operational measures.'
The regulator said instructors must check for compliance with procedures concerning training, maintenance and licensing, and coordinate flight plans with nearby airports in advance to ensure any emergencies are dealt with swiftly.
'Compliance will be assessed during audits/surveillance,' said the memo by the Directorate of Flying Training, reviewed by Reuters.
Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, visited Air India's headquarters near New Delhi and met the airline's chairman to discuss the crash, Reuters reported on Monday.
The crash poses a new challenge for Air India, which the Tata Group bought in 2022 and has been trying to revamp, and Boeing, which is trying to rebuild public trust following a series of safety and production crises.
In a June 13 memo headed 'updating airport emergency plan', seen by Reuters, government-managed airports have also been asked to conduct a full-scale training exercise - typically an emergency drill - on June 30.

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Express Tribune

2 days ago

Express Tribune

Air India says plane 'well-maintained'

Air India's Boeing plane was "well-maintained" before it crashed a week ago, killing all but one of 242 people on board, the airline said on Thursday. Indian authorities are yet to detail what caused the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to hurtle to the ground in the western city of Ahmedabad a week ago. At least 38 people were killed in the residential neighbourhood that the plane hit, causing such devastation that DNA analysts are still trying to identify dozens of the dead. As investigators attempt to retrieve data from the plane's black boxes -- the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder -- the airline said no problems were detected with the jet before the disaster. "The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023," Air India said in a statement. "Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight," it said. The London-bound jet burst into a fireball when it smashed down in Ahmedabad moments after takeoff. Initial checks on Air India's Dreamliners since the crash "did not reveal any major safety concerns", the country's civil aviation regulator said on Tuesday. India's aviation investigative unit said on Thursday the probe was "progressing steadily". "Key recovery work, including site documentation and evidence collection, has been completed, and further analysis is now underway," the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said in a statement. Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian on board the flight, as well as 12 crew members. The pilots were accomplished flyers, according to the airline.

Pakistan Navy's rescue operation helps injured Indian crew member

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Business Recorder

Pakistan Navy's rescue operation helps injured Indian crew member

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has successfully carried out a rescue operation to save an injured Indian crew member aboard an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea demonstrating its commitment to humanitarian values and international maritime responsibilities. According to the military's media wing, the ISPR, the operation was launched after Liberia-flagged oil tanker MT High Leader issued a distress call requesting urgent medical assistance for its injured Indian crew member. Upon receiving the emergency alert, the Pakistan Navy's Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre (JMICC) promptly coordinated and initiated a swift rescue mission. Navy, PMSA save lives of seamen including 9 Indian nationals The injured individual was safely evacuated with the help of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and transported to a local hospital in Karachi for emergency medical treatment. This timely and efficient operation highlights the Pakistan Navy's unwavering dedication to saving lives at sea, regardless of nationality. It stands as a testament to Pakistan Navy's exemplary role in upholding international maritime norms and its ongoing commitment to ensuring safety and humanitarian support in regional waters. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Navy rescue operation helps injured Indian crew member