Smoke Report: Repeated system faults raise safety concerns

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has presented a show-cause notice to an Air India pilot due to flight AI-358 and AI-357 being classified as risky and involving issues like aircraft dispatch, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) compliance, and flight crew decision-making.

DGCA, through the notice, claimed that the pilot had been granted access to the aircraft, notwithstanding the numerous errors and deterioration in the systems.

Smoke smell, system alerts reported during flight AI-358

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The authority of civil aviation remarked that a smell of smoke was reported near a door in the flight AI-358.

According to DGCA in the show-cause notice, “It has been pointed out that M/s Air India Limited, during the operation of Flight AI-358 (and consequent operations of AI-357), posed serious safety concerns about aircraft dispatch, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) compliance, and flight crew decision-making.

Meanwhile, when Flight AI-358 was being operated, the crew was given the notices of PACK ACM L and Pack Mode. And there was a report of smoke near the R2 door.

History of repetitive faults cited by aviation regulator

The notice further said, "Moreover, there was a history of five previous flights where repetitive faults of the same systems had been recorded, which pointed to a known history of system degradation."

The operating crew in AI-358, according to DGCA, took over the aircraft without proper knowledge of MEL restrictions; for on December 28, lower right recirculation fan's condition was not in line with MEL 'O' conditions.

The announcement included the following passages: "The aircraft VT-ANI was sent out with MEL items that were not compatible, which was against CAR Section 2, Series B. Part 1. Paras 2.2 and 2.3. To be more specific, the very pilots of Flights AI-358 and AI-357, including you, were aware of the recurring aircraft faults and the reduced systems' functionality, yet they still accepted the plane for operation.

"It was on that day, June 28, 2025, that Flight AI-358 did not comply with MEL 'O' conditions concerning the lower right recirculation fan, thus breaching CAR Section 2, Series B, Part 1, Para 5.3. The operating crew accepted the aircraft without a thorough understanding of MEL limitations and system interdependencies, which was contrary to the provisions of CAR Section 8, Series O, Part II, Para 3.1.2. The operating crew did not properly evaluate the cumulative operational and safety impact of several inoperative systems, as was required by CAR Section 8, Series O, Part II, Para 4.5.1," the statement from the aviation authority continued.

Another Air India flight returns to Delhi after take-Off

A flight of Air India that was heading for Mumbai had to come back to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi immediately after it took off, on December 22, Sunday.

Flight AI-887's pilots quickly decided to head back for safety reasons after noticing a malfunction in the airplane's system while in the sky.

The flight AI-887 from Delhi to Mumbai crew decided to come back to Delhi right after the take-off because of a technical issue, following standard operating procedure.