Air India Faces Lawsuit Over Boeing 777-200LR Oxygen Safety Issue
The Mumbai High Court has directed India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to investigate claims by a former Air India pilot regarding insufficient emergency oxygen supplies on certain Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. The order, issued on December 19, 2024, follows allegations that these aircraft lack adequate oxygen for long-haul routes between India and the United States.
The pilot, who was terminated after refusing to operate a Bengaluru-San Francisco flight in January 2024 over safety concerns, claims the emergency oxygen system on five ex-Delta Air Lines Boeing 777-200LRs provides only 12 minutes of oxygen. This duration, pilots argue, is insufficient to safely descend to 10,000 feet during a depressurization event, especially over mountainous terrain.
Air India’s fleet includes eight Boeing 777-200LRs, but only the five leased units are reportedly affected. Routes from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai to San Francisco, as well as Mumbai to New York Newark, continue to utilize these aircraft.
Earlier in 2024, the DGCA fined Air India INR1.1 million (USD12,850) for operating these aircraft outside regulatory and manufacturer-specified performance limits and mandated corrective actions. Air India maintains that it complies with all safety norms, while the DGCA has committed to a thorough review of the pilot’s claims.
This case has amplified scrutiny of Air India’s safety practices, with aviation stakeholders awaiting the DGCA’s findings to determine any necessary regulatory changes.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com