Action against Akasa Air pilot for lapse; IndiGo will challenge the fine imposed by the Customs Department
The DGCA has withdrawn the approval of the Line Training Captain given to the pilot till further orders. Apart from this, the permission of the pilot to do short take-off and landing (STOL) has also been withdrawn.
The aviation regulator (DGCA) has taken action against the pilot of Akasa Air. This action has been taken due to the lapse in the landing of a passenger aircraft in March 2024. According to sources, the DGCA has withdrawn the approval of the Line Training Captain given to the pilot till further orders. Apart from this, the pilot's permission to do short take-off and landing (STOL) has also been withdrawn. This lapse is a part of the regulatory investigation of Akasa Air.
On the other hand, the Customs Department has imposed a fine of 2.17 crores on Indigo Airlines. The company is opposing this order of the department and will challenge it. According to a regulatory filing, the fine was imposed after the airline refused to grant duty exemption on the import of aircraft parts.
In an order issued on Monday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that an audit of Akasa Air was conducted in October last year, which revealed a hard landing by the pilot. This means that the plane hit the runway abnormally.