New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a one-month suspension on Air India's chief of flight safety due to significant shortcomings identified during the regulator's examination of the airline's internal safety audits, accident prevention measures, and the availability of necessary technical personnel in July, media reported.

“The DGCA surveillance found deficiencies in the accident prevention work carried out by the organization (Air India) and the availability of the requisite technical manpower as required in the approved Flight Safety Manual and the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements. Further, it was observed that some of the internal audit/spot checks claimed to be carried out by the airline were done in a perfunctory manner and not as per the regulatory requirements,” the DGCA said.

After reviewing the action taken report submitted by Air India, the regulator issued show cause notices to relevant officials of the Tata Group airline.

“Based on the review of the replies received, the airline has been directed not to assign any audits/surveillance/spot checks pertaining to compliance of DGCA requirements to the particular auditor involved in the perfunctory inspections which indicates a lack of diligence. Further, the approval of the Chief of Flight Safety of M/s Air India has been suspended for a period of one month for the lapses established,” the DGCA said.

Air India is yet to respond to the action taken by the DGCA, said media reports.

According to DGCA officials, the inspection team had conducted several safety spot checks that the airline claimed to have performed at Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa were not actually done, and reports were falsified, according to an Indian Express report.