NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Tata Group’s flagship carrier Air India, that is now facing the scrutiny over the fatal crash involving the tragic death of 242 passengers, had several gaps in pre-flight security checks including an unauthorised access of a private man inside its Italy-bound aircraft as well as just one security staff in its other flights, including Delhi-Ahmedabad sector during the last one year.
These gaps were being found and responsibly detected by India’ India’s Bureau of Civil Aviation Security barely 10 months in the run-up to AI 171 crash involving Gatwick-bound Air India flight in Ahmedabad, mounting serious questions on the Air India management including its CEO Campbell Wilson, head of corporate communications Partha Ghosh, chief technical officer S K Das and others.
The New Indian has accessed the details of damning reports prepared by BCAS which duly kept sending penalties to Air India but the Tata Group apparently did not adhere to the protocol.
Among the three startling incidents, first incident by BCAS is recorded as detection of one “Aditya Siva Sai Thota, found inside the aircraft of Air India Milan bound flight AI 137” that was scheduled to depart at 2:15 PM on August 21, 2024.
The report said that Thota accessed into aerobridge at 12:20 PM and even entered into aircraft. It didn’t end here.
“The Air India security personnel deployed for access control at aircraft door, failed to prevent unauthorised entry of Thota,” the report has said. Further, when “pre-flight anti-sabotage was about to start by SSO Preeti, she found Thota in disoriented state,”
BCAS had said these violations fell under Rule 36 ( for failing access control to aircraft) under the Aircraft Security Rules 2023.
The Milan flight violation by Air India was deemed as a Level 1 security of contravention.
This level of security indicates a serious breach with potential safety or security risks, warranting penal action.
This wasn’t the only issue involving the Tata Group.
On July 22, 2024 BCAS had earlier written to Air India on the “breach of aviation security protocol” after its security test found presence of just one security personnel in Air India aircraft No. AI 835 — the same Delhi to Ahmedabad sector — which is now under scrutiny.
“On June 12, 2024, BCAS officials conducted security test on Air India aircraft and it has been observed that only one security staff was deployed for access control at a ladder point check as well for the pre-flight security check” the report said.
Accordingly, a showcase notice was sent and Air India barely said “It is under transition phase and merger/amalgamation with group of companies are in final stage as well as station wise security manpower as per BCAS guidelines have been reviewed.
Unsatisfied, BCAS again slapped a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Air India.
Third incident occurred on June 13, 2024 when Air India’s vehicle HR55X4858 carrying catering for two flights: AI 467 and AI 512 was found without any security escort.
Catering and food are important part of aircraft’s and passenger’ journey as any contamination or inadvertent spoilage can lead to fatal incident.
“Kamal Singh Meena, SSO escorted the hi-lift vehicle no HR XXXXfrom Ambassador flight kitchen to Terminal 3 along with copy of security check of mentioned vehicle for transporting catering items for flight no AI 467 and AI 512 including driver details. On examination of attached slip, it is found handwriting of name of security assistant Kamal Singh Meena mis matched with other writings. Hence name of Kamal Singh Meena was intentionally inserted in later stage after checking BCAS team,” the report has said.
The reports clearly show that BCAS was leaving no stone unturned to plug gaps by Air India in safety but the parent private company Tata paid little heed to these violations of protocols.
