Air India slammed for ‘repeated violations' and three officials sacked over ‘systemic failures' in wake of horror crash
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
AIR India has been slammed for "repeated violations" with three officials sacked over "systemic failures" following the tragic crash.
Cracks within the airline have started to show after flight AI171 smashed into a doctors' hostel and exploded into a huge fireball last week.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
7
Crews search and clear the wreck
Credit: EPA
7
The plane crashed in a fireball at a doctor's hostel
Credit: x/nchorAnandN
7
Firefighters work at the site of the crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad
Credit: EPA
All passengers and crew - except for one miracle survivor - died in the horror accident on June 12 which killed at least 270 people.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urged Air India to remove three company executives from crew scheduling roles, it has been revealed.
The three officials include a divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling and one planning executive.
Their sacking relates to lapses linked to flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and May 17 that exceeded the stipulated pilot flight time limit of 10 hours.
read more news
sad Loss This Morning star's heartbreaking final video hours before Air India crash death
The order on Friday cited "systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversights" and criticised the lack of strict disciplinary measures against the officials.
Despite the latest action by the aviation authority against Air India being unrelated to this month's tragic crash, it has laid bare the significant issues with the airline.
On Thursday, it was also brought to light that authorities previously warned the airline for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes flew despite being overdue for checks on emergency equipment of escape slides.
The latest order by assistant director of operations at the DGCA, Himanshu Srivastava, said: "Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible."
Air India said it has implemented the DGCA order and in the interim, the company's chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre.
The airline added: "Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices."
Shock moment passenger threatens to CRASH Air India plane mid-flight in furious row just days after Ahmedabad disaster
The DGCA stated in its order that Air India had voluntarily disclosed the violations.
Investigators are continuing their probe into what caused the airline's London-bound plane to plunge to the ground moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
Air India said on Thursday that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane was "well-maintained" and that the pilots were accomplished flyers.
The airline's chief N Chandrasekaran also hit back at 'speculation' on what caused the London-bound flight to crash a minute after take-off.
And it was revealed that the black box recovered from the flight could be sent to the US for analysis after being rescued from a blazing 1,000 degree inferno.
The Indian government has the final say on who probes the device, but reports say the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C. is being considered for the analysis.
A team of Indian investigators is expected to accompany the device to ensure all protocols are followed during the advanced data extraction.
Investigators warned on Tuesday that the recovered black boxes may have melted due to the intense heat of the raging explosion.
7
The plane seconds before disaster with its landing gear still extended
Credit: x/nchorAnandN
7
People stand near debris at the crash site
Credit: EPA
7
The plane's tail can be seen sticking out of a building following the crash
Credit: AP
7
Lone survivor of the Air India plane crash Vishwash Ramesh pictured at his family home in Diu, India
Credit: Dan Charity
Planes usually carry two black boxes, which are small but tough electronic flight data recorders.
One records flight data, such as altitude and speed, whilst the other monitors the cockpit sound.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), were recovered 28 hours after the horror crash.
Despite the name, these devices are painted bright orange for visibility amid debris.
Investigators believe the CVR on this 2014-delivered aircraft likely stored only two hours of cockpit audio.
The jet predates a 2021 rule which enforced 25-hour recordings on all planes.
But the FDR is capable of logging thousands of flight parameters for over 25 hours, including altitude, airspeed, and control inputs.
The aircraft had climbed less than 600 feet before its ascent stalled, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
A distress signal was sent but was met with complete radio silence.
Moments later, the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex near the airport's northeastern boundary.
The damaged black box is now seen as a crucial piece of evidence in understanding what led to India's worst air disaster in nearly three decades.
Investigators hope the data from the box will shed light on the aircraft's final moments.
52 Brits died on board the flight, but London local Vishwash Kumar Ramesh managed to cheat death when he escaped the blazing inferno following the crash.
Theories have swirled over how the sole survivor managed to narrowly escape death when he was sat in seat 11A during the horror smash.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Woman, 69, fights for her life in hospital after being hit by car in horror crash as cops appeal for witnesses
A WOMAN has been left fighting for her life after being hit by a car in a shocking collision. The 69-year-old was hit by a vehicle shortly after 6am today while walking in South Harrow, London, suffering serious injuries. She currently remains in hospital in a critical condition, the Metropolitan Police said. Cops added that the driver stopped at the scene and is helping with ongoing police enquiries. No arrests have yet been made. Police are also currently appealing for witnesses of the horrific collision to come forward. Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the event or may have dash cam footage in the run-up to the collision. If you have any information which could help police, call 101 or dial the witness line directly on 0208 246 9820, quoting reference 1569/21JUN. You can also anonymously report your findings through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. 1
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Watchdog opens case into British charity amid concerns funds end up with Hamas
The charities watchdog has opened a compliance case into a British charity over 'serious allegations' that the money it raises for families in Gaza ends up with Hamas. The Charity Commission is examining the way that Save One Life UK distributes the money it collects in the UK. The London-based charity is already being investigated by counter-terror police over claims the cash it distributes for children and their families may end up in the coffers of the banned terror group. The Telegraph revealed earlier this year that concerns have been raised about an alleged lack of control over the way the funds raised are spent. But the Charity Commission, which regulates all charities operating in Britain, has now opened a preliminary investigation – known as a regulatory compliance case – following allegations made about Save One Life UK. A spokesman for the watchdog said: 'We are aware of serious allegations made about Save One Life, which the charity also promptly reported to us. As a result, we have opened a regulatory compliance case to allow us to gather more information. 'As part of this, we have engaged with the charity's trustees and are currently assessing both the charity's activities and the trustees' oversight, particularly in relation to the application of its funds overseas.' The charity has raised more than £5 million in the past five years, with most of its aid directed to Gaza since the start of Israel's military retaliation to the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas in 2023. A complaint about Save One Life UK's activities was submitted to the Metropolitan Police in April, via the Government's online system for reporting material promoting terrorism or extremism. Scotland Yard sources said the complaint was 'passed on to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for investigation'. Cash for 'those most in need' Save One Life tells potential donors on its website that it is 'working with the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza' (MoSD) to deliver cash to 'those most in need'. Hamas, which governs Gaza and is banned as a terror group by the UK government, has exercised effective control over the MoSD in Gaza for several years. Save One Life has said: 'Beneficiaries are pre-vetted and approved for assistance by the ministry, and the financial assistance is directly distributed, accounted for and audited and is distributed strictly in line with the principles of Zakat [Islamic system of charitable giving].' The Telegraph previously reported that publicity photographs submitted to police appeared to show charity workers handing over envelopes allegedly thought to contain cash to children in Gaza In other footage, one of Save One Life UK's workers describes giving cash to families bombed out of their homes and living in temporary shelters amid the ruins. That has raised the fear that the charity has little control over where the funds it has raised in Britain ultimately end up in an area that is governed by Hamas. 'Unknown broker in Turkey' The complainant told police: 'Save One Life UK is a registered charity that is sending money to Gaza via an unknown broker in Turkey. 'A charity can be investigated if it is suspected of transferring money for non-charitable purposes, including political activity and support of terrorism, which would include allegations that the charity may provide material support for a proscribed terrorist group like Hamas.' Among the charity's trustees is Addeel Khan, the director of equity, inclusion and culture at University College London (UCL) and a former senior executive with the British Red Cross, who is a leading figure in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion policy. In a live-streamed video posted on Facebook in April 2021, Mr Khan said the charity works with the MoSD to vet beneficiaries. He said: 'They make sure they're vetted and the money is checked, ID is provided, to make sure the right people are receiving it – and there is clear transparency in terms of where the money goes.' Save One Life UK launched an appeal for Gaza just hours after Hamas had carried out its deadly Oct 7 attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people, the single biggest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. Its Gaza Under Attack appeal appeared to come before Israel had launched any significant military response to the Hamas attacks. In one image posed on social media on 10.16am on Oct 7, Save One Life UK stated: 'Our brothers and sisters in Palestine are under attack again.' In another poster, published on the first anniversary of the attacks, and after months of bombardment by Israel on Gaza, Save One Life UK declared: 'Years of resistance. Palestine stands strong: 12 months of brutal violence. Decades of resilient resistance.' 'False allegations' A spokesman for Save One Life said: 'We stand robustly behind our cash aid programme in Gaza to support the innocent civilians of Gaza suffering from the ongoing blockade and violence being committed by Israel. 'Cash aid is provided to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza by a number of organisations, including the UN and the IFRC. 'We have taken our own steps to notify the required bodies and are working with them transparently to address these false allegations.' The spokesman added: 'At a time when thousands have been killed through starvation and lack of funds to purchase bare essentials, we need the world and specifically the British public and media to support charitable efforts for the innocent victims. 'We always operate in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, we do not work with Hamas or any proscribed terrorist organisation.'
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Badenoch: BBC should not show ‘extremist' Kneecap at Glastonbury
Kemi Badenoch said the BBC should not broadcast Kneecap 'propaganda' at Glastonbury Festival next week. The Tory leader said on X that the BBC 'should not be rewarding extremism' by showing the Irish republican rap group's set. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, a Kneecap member, appeared in court accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. Reacting to a story in The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group from its Glastonbury coverage, Mrs Badenoch tweeted: 'The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. 'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.' Mrs Badenoch has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury. And last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the Government in Belfast High Court after Mrs Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. Kneecap took aim at Mrs Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May. The song mocked her attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's general election loss. On Wednesday, Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J Ó Dochartaigh at Westminster magistrates' court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. During the proceedings, the court heard the 27-year-old is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a 'wholly different thing'. Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on Aug 20. Following the hearing, the rapper said: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. 'If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. 'But most importantly: free, free Palestine.' The charge came after a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. 'We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? 'To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. 'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. 'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.' A BBC spokesman said: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. 'While the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead-up to the festival.'
