DGCA recommends action against AI flight

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recommended action against the crew of an Air India Express flight involved in an incident where the plane plunged 7,000 feet before being brought under control in May this year.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recommended action against the crew of an Air India Express flight involved in an incident where the plane plunged 7,000 feet before being brought under control in May this year.

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The incident termed as “serious” was investigated by the DGCA, which in its report has recommended “appropriate action against the crew”. The incident took place on the Dubai–Pune flight number IX-212.

The pilot-in-command (PIC) told the inquiry team that he had left the cockpit for the washroom and as it was occupied he wanted to return. He realised that the aircraft had gone into nose down configuration.

However, the cockpit door did not open and the PIC used emergency access code to enter. On entering the cockpit, he manually controlled the aircraft.

The co-pilot didn’t respond to messages from the crew nor open the door. When asked, he said he was panic stricken.