Indian aviation safety has hit some turbulence lately, and it’s not just about in-flight meals running out of paneer. A recent audit has uncovered multiple lapses across airlines and airports, making us wonder: Kya scene hai with our flight safety? From maintenance shortcuts to cabin crew, it’s time we buckle up, not just our seatbelts, but also our expectations. Let’s break down the mess so you’ll know exactly why you’re side-eyeing that safety demo next time.
- The Case of the Unchecked Escape Slides
Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Imagine flying internationally, not knowing that the escape slides on your flight haven’t been checked for months. Air India operated three Airbus aircraft with overdue escape slide inspections, one of them for more than three months! Some of these planes even flew to Dubai and Riyadh during this time. Next-level thrill-seeking, except nobody asked for it.
- Pilots Pulling Double Shifts?
Air India pilots crossed the legal 10-hour flight time limit on flights from Bengaluru to London. Not kidding, these pilots were working marathon shifts that even your 996 tech bro friend would flinch at. The regulator had to step in, and three top crew schedulers got the boot for letting this happen. Pilot bhi insaan hai, not robots!
- Maintenance? What Maintenance?
Apparently, multiple recurring defects on aircraft were reported at Mumbai and Delhi airports. Instead of fixing the real problem, it was more like, “Arre yaar, thoda adjust kar lo.” The regulator pointed to unresolved defects and plain old ignoring maintenance protocols. Bro, this isn’t your college roommate’s broken fan, it’s an airplane!
- Training Day… or Not?
Remember those school days when a substitute teacher didn’t know the syllabus? Now imagine that in a cockpit. Air India got slapped with a ₹90 lakh fine because a non-trainer captain was paired with an unqualified first officer between Mumbai and Riyadh. Yeh kya ho raha hai? We all deserve pros, not amateurs, handling our lives thousands of feet above ground!
- The Domino Effect of Safety Lapses
After a fatal crash, Air India had to ground multiple flights, causing major operational meltdowns. Folks are now losing faith, and honestly, can you blame them? We just want to reach home safe. Is that too much to ask?
It’s high time our airlines and regulatory bodies buckle up and prioritize passenger safety over everything else.
