IndiGo Airlines may be India’s largest passenger carrier airline operating over 800 flights to 41 destinations, but right now it is in the news for all the wrong reasons. We look at why IndiGo pilots are currently under the scanner and other stupid things that pilots have done aboard flights in the past to raise questions about the safety of aviation in India.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently taken note of the fact that some IndiGo airline pilots had posed with booze bottles aboard their flights and has initiated a probe. This raises worrying questions – why were there booze bottles with the pilots – were they planning to drink? Or were they just having some “fun”? Both scenarios raise safety concerns and issues relating to pilot commitment.
Earlier, other IndiGo pilots had posed in their cockpit with family members and taken pictures. It is not clear whether this happened while the plane was on the ground or airborne, but the DGCA has decided to probe this as well since taking pictures inside the cockpit has security implications.
In an incident that took place in early 2015, three IndiGo pilots were investigated for taking mid air selfies. This raises obvious concerns about pilot distraction which potentially endangers hundreds of lives. As a result of the DGCA investigation, those 3 pilots have been de-rostered and grounded for a period of one week.
Earlier this year, two IndiGo pilots were dismissed from service because they mistook a road for a runway and very nearly landed their plane there; endangering lives. Their sacking was the result of a two month probe.
Further there were instances such as a tire burst when an aircraft landed at Mumbai airport and an Air India flight that had to have an emergency landing because of a windscreen crack. There was also the horrific incident when one member of the ground staff was sucked into the aircraft engine.
Some years back there was an incident aboard an aircraft where a pilot and flight attendant came to blows while the plane was airborne. It was allegedly a sexual harassment matter and in the bargain the cockpit was unmanned for about 10 minutes.
When incidents such as these occuring, the perception of Indian airline carriers being unsafe tends to arise. The American agency for aviation had downgraded India's flight safety status in 2014.
In the past six months, about 25 pilots have left IndiGo Airlines as a result of an increase in market demand for pilots and cabin crew. IndiGo wants that the six month notice for pilots wanting to leave to be increased to one year. Meanwhile, the airline is looking for new pilots. In light of this situation are current pilots taking selfies thinking their jobs are safe?
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