DGCA Launches Investigation into Air India Pilot’s Tragic Death

NEW DELHI: India’s aviation safety group, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is looking into the sudden death of an Air India Express pilot who suffered a heart attack right after landing in Delhi on April 9. The DGCA gave this order on April 17, asking experts to review current health rules for pilots and suggest changes if needed.

“The sudden heart attack of the First Officer during Flight IX-1153 from Srinagar to Delhi on April 9 needs an investigation,” said Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the DGCA’s director general. The investigation will follow rules set in 2017 for checking accidents and incidents in aviation. A copy of the order was also sent to the airline’s head of flight safety.

The pilot, who was only 36 years old, collapsed minutes after they had safely landed and later died at the hospital. Some early reports said that the emergency response was not handled well. A group of pilots even mentioned that the co-pilot might have been too tired to fly, which is why a thorough investigation is necessary.

Kidwai has appointed Vishal Yadav, a DGCA safety official, to lead the investigation, with Group Captain Murtaza from the Medical Services team also helping out. They are asked to complete their report within six months.

The investigation will focus on several important facts, like whether the crew informed air traffic control about feeling unwell during the flight and if they received the right help. The team will check the medical history of the pilot who died and if the airline followed safety measures when assigning flights to pilots with health issues. They will also look into how quickly the pilot received medical help after collapsing and assess how well the airport’s medical center is prepared for emergencies.

The government is also considering updating procedures for handling medical emergencies at airports. The pilot was last checked by a medical team from the Indian Air Force in January and was deemed fit for flying, but he had to be with a more experienced pilot while flying.

Experts say this investigation is very important to ensure the safety of all pilots and passengers.