Mumbai: Dindoshi Sessions Court Refuses Police Probe Into 2017 Air India Flight Safety Violation Case

Mumbai's Dindoshi Sessions Court has declined to order a police probe into a 2017 Air India flight safety violation case, despite a complaint filed by a former employee. The court's decision comes after a petition was heard by the sessions judge, who was examining a plea from K V Jagannatharao, a former Air India crew member. The alleged breach of flight safety rules involved Captain A Kathpalia, who allegedly operated a flight from Delhi to Bengaluru without undergoing the mandatory pre-flight breath analyzer test.

Despite being informed about the missed test, Kathpalia allegedly remained in the sterile area of the airport and operated a return flight the same night. He also allegedly skipped the post-flight breath analyzer test and made a fraudulent entry in the pre-flight examination register. The complainant alleged that Kathpalia remained in the sterile area and operated the return flight, and that he forged a signature in the pre-flight examination register.

The court declined to direct the police to investigate the case, citing that the Delhi High Court had already directed disciplinary action against Captain Kathpalia in 2018. Additionally, it was argued that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India could not hold each other solely accountable for investigating irregularities in compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).