On Tuesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to Spicejet airlines after reviewing the recent incidents that happened with the airlines. The notice was issued asking why DGCA should not take action against Spicejet for failing to establish safe, efficient, and reliable air services.
Civil aviation reviewed the incidents reported on aircraft handled by SpiceJet from April 1, 2022, to date and found that many times the aircraft return to their original station or continue to land at the destination with degraded safety margins.
The notice stated that the continued number of incidents show that safety norms were overlooked and there was inadequate maintenance of the aircraft as many incidents reported are related to either component failure or system-related failure.
It was noticed that on Tuesday alone, flights operated by the Spicejet airlines faced three complications that are the Delhi-Dubai flight’s unplanned landing to Karachi Pakistan; the Kandla-Mumbai flight making a stress landing after its windshield outer pane cracked showing poor maintenance of aircraft, and a Kolkata-China freighter returning due to faulty weather radar.
Not only these but so many incidents reported on the aircraft operated by Spicejet in recent weeks.
The regulator of DGCA informed that financial assessment of Spicejet carried out last year revealed that airlines are operating on Cash and Carry principles and also suppliers/vendors have not been paid regularly resulting in the shortage of spares.
From the above-stated points, it can be concluded the airline has failed to establish secure, efficient, and reliable air services under the rules of Aviation. Thus, the accountable manager of Spicejet is called to show cause within the three weeks of the notice issued to explain why action should not be taken against the airlines. If the concerned official failed to show up within the said time the matter will proceed through ex parte. Now, the government is not going to take any chances with the airlines.
However, a Spicejet official said that they are going to reply to the notice on time. He further added that they have also ensured the safety and security of their passengers and maintenance of the aircraft is done on time. The incidents reported were minor errors. But if the directorate general of Civil Aviation has a complaint regarding their aircraft and air services, they will make sure to improve their services.
Meanwhile, the ministry of Aviation tweeted the notice stating Due to the recent incidents of a technical malfunction of the Spicejet aircraft, DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to the airlines.
Union Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia retweeted the notice saying that passengers’ safety is the topmost priority Even the smallest error hampering safety will be thoroughly investigated and course-corrected.
A few months ago, the regulator advised the Spicejet officials not to compromise on the maintenance of the aircraft and passenger safety due to the financial condition of the airlines.
Although, all the Indian airlines are at losses after the COVID 19 pandemic, and also the Russia Ukraine war resulted in rising in the prices of fuel further draining the finances of the airlines.
