DGCA finds minor flaws in aircraft maintenance during spot checks

Through spot checks and night surveillance of aircraft parked across major airports in the country over the last 10 days, India’s aviation safety regulator DGCA found several deficiencies in how aircraft are maintained, including minor mechanical issues, damaged seats, missing safety markings on seats, defects in aircraft door panels, discrepancies with maintenance records, among others, a senior regulatory official told The Indian Express.

The DGCA inspections came in the aftermath of the May 1 incident on SpiceJet’s Mumbai-Durgapur flight that left several passengers injured as the plane underwent severe turbulence. Following the incident, the regulator ordered inspection of the entire fleet of SpiceJet, while taking off duty the in-charge of the airline’s maintenance control centre. The DGCA also ordered spot checks for other airlines.