DGCA bars 90 SpiceJet pilots from flying 737 Max planes after finding them improperly trained
New Delhi(PTI): Indian aviation regulator DGCA has barred 90 SpiceJet pilots from operating the Boeing 737 Max aircraft after finding them not properly trained.
"For the moment, we have barred these pilots from flying the Max and they have to retrain successfully for flying the aircraft," DGCA chief Arun Kumar said in a statement.
He also said that the regulator will take "strict action against those found responsible for the lapse."
The pilots will have to undergo training again, in a proper manner, on the Max simulator.
The Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded in India by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 13, 2019, three days after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max aircraft near Addis Ababa, which killed 157 people, including four Indians.
The ban on the planes was lifted in August last year after the DGCA was satisfied with US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing's necessary software rectifications in the aircraft.
Proper pilot training on the simulator was also among the conditions of the DGCA for removing the ban on the Max planes after a span of 27 months.
A SpiceJet spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed that the DGCA has restricted 90 pilots of the airline from flying the Max planes.
SpiceJet has 650 pilots trained on the Boeing 737 Max. The DGCA had an observation on the training profile followed for 90 pilots, and therefore, as per the advise of the DGCA, SpiceJet has restricted 90 pilots from operating the Max aircraft, until these pilots undergo re-training to the satisfaction of the DGCA. These pilots continue to remain available for other Boeing 737 aircraft," the spokesperson said.
This restriction does not impact the operations of the Max aircraft whatsoever. SpiceJet, currently, operates 11 Max aircraft and about 144 pilots are required to operate these aircraft, the spokesperson said.
"Of the 650 trained pilots on the Max, 560 continue to remain available, which is much more than the current requirement, the spokesperson said.
SpiceJet is the only Indian airline that has the Max aircraft in its fleet.
Akasa Air, the new airline backed by ace investor Jhunjhunwala and aviation veterans Aditya Ghosh and Vinay Dube, had in November last year signed a deal with Boeing to purchase 72 Max planes. Akasa Air has not got any of these planes as yet.
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Kejriwal's aide Bibhav files police complaint against Maliwal, alleges she hurled abuses at him
New Delhi, May 17: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar on Friday filed a police complaint against AAP MP Swati Maliwal, alleging she breached the security of the CM's residence to gain unauthorised entry on May 13 and created a ruckus there, the party said.
It also said that when Kumar tried to stop her she hurled abuses at him.
In his complaint filed via an e-mail to the Civil Lines Police Station SHO, Kumar said now she is trying to falsely implicate him by alleging that he assaulted her at the chief minister's residence when she had gone to meet Kejriwal.
Kumar has also sent a copy of his complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North).
In a statement, the AAP said Kumar has said in his complaint that Maliwal breached the security of the CM's residence, gained access forcibly and unauthorisedly, and created a ruckus there.
When Kumar tried to stop her, she hurled abuses at him with the intent to physically assault him, according to the complaint.
Kumar also said in the complaint that Maliwal is now trying to falsely implicate him so as to create undue pressure on him.
Maliwal has already filed an FIR against Kumar alleging that he assaulted her when she had gone to meet Kejriwal at his official residence on May 13.
Kumar in his complaint said Maliwal barged into Kejriwal's residence on May 13 by telling security personnel that she was a Rajya Sabha MP.
"Despite requests by security officers to wait until he gets the details of her appointment verified, she forcibly entered the CM's residence despite the objections," Kumar said in his complaint.
The complaint stated that she trespassed despite repeated objections by security personnel and CM office staff.
It was claimed in the complaint that at 9:22 am when Kumar entered the main building of the CM's residence, he found Maliwal sitting in the drawing room.
"Kumar approached Maliwal and politely requested her to follow the proper procedure for meeting the chief minister. To this, Maliwal started screaming and shouting at Kumar, and hurled abuses. She said: 'tumhari himmat kaise hui...ek MP ko rokne ki....tumhari aukat kya hai? (How dare you to stop an MP)'," the complaint stated.
Maliwal ignored the requests and started walking from the drawing room towards the inner parts of the residence, Kumar said in his complaint.
Kumar claimed that she intended to harm Kejriwal and he strongly "objected". Maliwal became angry and sat on a sofa and called the police control room. She started levelling false allegations, the complainant said.
Kumar said that when he requested Maliwal to leave the CM's residence, she said "Main tujhe dekh lungi...main tujhe aese joothe case mei fasaungi ki tujhe zindagi bhar jail mei sadah dungi ....(I will trap you in a false case and you will spend your whole life in prison)".
He said he called security officers in the main building and they too requested her to leave. She left the premises at 9.35 am, the complaint said.
Kumar has alleged that Maliwal trespassed, breached security of the CM's residence, prevented government officers from discharging their duty and assaulted him. Therefore, she is liable for action as per the law, he said.
Kumar said, "You (SHO) are requested to take appropriate legal action against Maliwal. Since it is election time, all of this may have been done at the behest of the BJP and it is therefore, requested that her call records, chats and interactions with BJP leaders should also be investigated."
