New Delhi, Jan 1 (UNI) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has flagged safety issues on Air India flights AI-358 and AI-357 and issued a show-cause notice to the pilot concerned, citing aircraft dispatch, MEL compliance, and crew decision-making.
According to the DGCA notice, the pilot accepted the aircraft notwithstanding repeated issues and ongoing system degradation.
The civil aviation authority noted that a smell of smoke was reported near one of the doors on flight AI-358.
In the show-cause notice, the DGCA stated that serious safety issues were observed during the operation of Air India flight AI-358, as well as the related AI-357 flight, involving aircraft dispatch, compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), and flight crew decision-making.
As per the notice, the flight crew on AI-358 received PACK ACM L and Pack Mode advisories, and a smell of smoke was reported near the R2 door.
It further noted that repetitive snags involving the same systems had been recorded across five earlier sectors, indicating a known pattern of system degradation.
The DGCA said the crew operating flight AI-358 accepted the aircraft despite not fully understanding MEL limitations, noting that on December 28 the lower right recirculation fan violated MEL “O” conditions.
Furthermore, the notice said aircraft VT-ANI was dispatched in violation of CAR provisions due to incompatible MEL items, and that the pilots of AI-358 and AI-357 accepted it despite knowing about repeated snags and system degradation.
The notice said flight AI-358 violated MEL “O” conditions on June 28, 2025, and that the crew accepted the aircraft without adequately understanding MEL limitations and system interdependencies.
The aviation authority said that the operating crew failed to properly assess the combined operational and safety implications of multiple inoperative systems, as required under CAR Section 8, Series O, Part II, Paragraph 4.5.1.
“Now, therefore, you are hereby directed to show cause within 14 days of receipt of this notice as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against you under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the above-mentioned violations,” the notice read.
“Failure to submit your reply within the stipulated period shall result in the matter being decided ex parte based on the evidence available on record,” the aviation body added.
