MP P Wilson on Monday raised concerns over aviation safety
In a post on X, the DMK MP said he was travelling on IndiGo flight 6E 7423 from Kolkata to Shillong along with three other MPs and 67 passengers to attend a Joint Parliamentary Committee public hearing when the aircraft came to a halt while taxiing towards the runway. Afterwards, the pilot announced a technical glitch and cancelled the flight,” he said.
“The truth is that the flight was unsafe, and it is unclear how the DGCA (@DGCAIndia) granted this aircraft an airworthiness certificate–a serious violation,” he said. “If they are not, the DGCA should cancel their certificates, ground the aircraft and prohibit them from flying,” Wilson said. What happens if a flight develops technical snags in mid-air?” he said. Emphasising the significance of airworthiness certification, Wilson said it was the basic assurance that an aircraft was technically fit to fly.
Wilson urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to intervene and direct the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct an impartial review of airworthiness certificates issued to aircraft operating across the country. He also called for surprise inspections to ensure passenger safety. Before take-off, an engine failed and was shut down. Passengers were stranded on board for about two hours. Wilson called on the civil aviation minister to ask the DGCA to review the airworthiness certificates of all aircraft and verify whether they were fit to fly. He also sought surprise inspections by vigilance units wherever necessary. “The innocent public trusts that flights are safe and undertakes journeys.