The DGCA has demanded SpiceJet an explanation after an unusually high number of incidents involving their aeroplanes.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has identified significant flaws in SpiceJet operations. The notice includes operating flights with degraded safety margins, poor internal safety oversight, and vendor late payments resulting in a shortage of spare parts for the airline’s fleet.
The Government notice says that the airline company is operating its fleet on the Minimum Equipment List (MEL). It means the aircraft is safe to fly, but the systems do not work correctly.
The Aviation Regulator notice on SpiceJet’s safety said, “The (DGCA) review transpires that poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance actions resulted in degradation of safety margins.” Most of the incidents are related to either component failure or system-related failure.
Further, the DGCA notice stated that SpiceJet Ltd has failed to establish safe, efficient and reliable services.
Following the notice, the statement issued by the airline said it would respond to it in due time.
The SpiceJet spokesperson said, “We are committed to ensuring a safe operation for our passengers and crew. We are also an IATA-IOSA-certified airline. SpiceJet completed the audit programme for recertification in October 2021.” He claimed that all flights of SpiceJet comply with regulations of the DGCA Civil Aviation Regulations.
Some of the accidents involving SpiceJet are:
May 28: Mumbai-Gorakhpur flight returned to base after its windshield cracked at 23,000 feet.
June 19: Patna-Delhi aircraft immediately landed after its engine caught fire due to a bird hit soon after take-off.
July 5: Kandla-Mumbai flight landed at Mumbai airport after the aircraft’s windshield cracked, and Delhi-Dubai aircraft diverted to Karachi after the fuel indicator started malfunctioning.
July 5: Cargo plane to China turned back to Kolkata after weather radar failed.
For three years, SpiceJet has been facing losses of ₹ 316 crores, ₹ 934 crores and ₹ 998 crores in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively.
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