Thousands of commercial airline pilots in India are to have their licences checked after a pilot working for Air India was arrested at the weekend for faking his qualifications.
At least four pilots have recently been accused of using false documentation to get their licenses, prompting a massive investigation amongst Indian aviation regulators.
India’s director general of civil aviation (DGCA) Bharat Bhushan has told reporters that some 4000 licences would now come under scrutiny. Delhi police will also get involved in the investigation.
India’s growing wealth and explosion in low-cost flying has seen airlines jockeying for pilots.
Suspicions were raised about the quality of some pilots last month when the DGCA revoked a license of a female pilot for domestic carrier IndiGo Airlines after it was found she had handed in forged qualifications.
The pilot had landed an A320 poorly, causing considerable damage and making her superiors question her ability.
She was found to have forged papers to get her airline transport pilot’s licence. Two more pilots, flying for IndiGo and domestic carrier MDLR Airlines, also lost their licences after it was discovered that they had never properly graduated from co-pilot status.
by Dinah Hatch
