BENGALURU- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) has taken disciplinary action against three cabin crew members following an incident involving the improper opening of a door on a Boeing 777 aircraft.
The incident occurred after the plane, operating flight AI 176 from San Francisco (SFO) to Bangalore, landed at Bengaluru International Airport (BLR) on September 15.
Air India Derosters 3 Cabin Crew
According to sources, the cabin crew opened the aircraft door in “armed mode,” leading to the automatic deployment of the emergency slides. This action is considered a serious safety violation.
An Air India spokesperson acknowledged the technical issue with the door not opening appropriately upon landing, stating the matter was promptly attended to.
In response to the incident, Air India has derostered (removed from active duty), the three cabin crew members responsible for the erroneous door operation. The airline has also initiated an internal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the safety breach.
Following the incident, engineers were called to remove the damaged emergency slides, which had to be replaced with a new set. This resulted in the delay of the scheduled Bangalore-San Francisco flight.
In a statement, Air India acknowledged the technical issue with the door not opening appropriately upon landing and stated that the matter was promptly attended to. The airline added that passengers disembarked, and the aircraft was subsequently cleared for operation.
Air India further clarified that there was no damage to the aerobridge and that the regulatory authorities were informed as per procedure.
Refurbishment Program
Air India has recently started a $400 million refit program to overhaul 67 legacy aircraft in its fleet. The program begins with 27 Airbus A320neo narrowbody aircraft, followed by 40 Boeing widebody planes.
Air India’s Engineering team will coordinate the refit project, collaborating with global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Collins, Astronics, and Thales. The program will involve installing over 15,000 next-generation seats across all cabin classes.
The first widebody aircraft retrofit is scheduled to begin in early 2025, subject to supply chain conditions.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.