EASA Flags Safety Lapses in Air India Aircraft European aviation authorities have raised concerns over safety lapses in Air India aircraft following a series of surprise inspections at airports across Europe, prompting increased scrutiny from regulators and corrective action by India’s aviation watchdog. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) identified multiple issues during inspections carried out under its Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) program. Officials familiar with the findings noted that the ratio of safety issues per inspection for Air India aircraft reached 1.96 in January, triggering concern within the Cologne-based regulator and prompting communication with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). A ratio approaching 2 is considered a warning threshold in the SAFA framework. If exceeded, it can result in heightened inspections, operational restrictions, or in extreme cases, bans in European markets. European authorities maintain strict safety standards, and even relatively minor cabin or documentation issues are recorded as compliance findings. The inspections did not point to a single aircraft but rather a pattern of issues across Air India’s fleet, mainly involving older widebody jets such as Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft. The findings emerged during routine surprise inspections at multiple European airports under the SAFA program, with increased exposure at hubs like Vienna due to fuel stops on North America routes. In response, the DGCA moved quickly to intensify oversight of the Tata Group-owned airline. Authorities imposed corrective measures and increased inspections of aircraft scheduled for international operations. Only aircraft meeting full compliance standards are now cleared for continued service.#easa #air_india #director_general_of_civil_aviation #tata_group #singapore_airlines
