Two Air India officials face action for dereliction of duty

Air India's general manager (operations), in charge of training Capt RS Dhillon has been suspended for fudging simulator training records even as civil aviation minister Ajit Singh on Wednesday directed immediate removal of the state-run airline's general manager (operations) for dereliction of duty and putting passengers at inconvenience.

Air India has suspended Capt RS Dhillon, general manager (operations), in charge of training, on grounds of fudging simulator training records. This follows a complaint received about alleged irregularities in the conduct of simulator sessions at A-330 Jet Airways simulator.

Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh had instituted an inquiry by the vigilance department of Air India after the misconduct was brought to his notice and has subsequently ordered the suspension of Dhillion.

The investigation report has now revealed that records with regard to training imparted on simulator were prima facie fudged by Dhillon. Prima facie, it has also been established that Dhillon has not conducted full 8 hours of simulator training - in fact he has conducted less than 4 hours of training.

''As this misconduct is fraught with serious implications on the training of pilots and consequently flight safety, Capt. Dhillon has been placed under suspension with effect from 31-12-2012 pending charge-sheet and further inquiry,'' a civil aviation ministry release said.

Ajit Singh has asked Air India to immediately remove its general manager (operations), Capt HY Samant from his present assignment, for his failure to put a crew in place for Flight A-330, Mumbai-Singapore.