Pune (Maharashtra): An Air Asia flight was "grounded" on the runway at the Pune airport after a tyre of the aircraft was found "cracked", according to the official sources on Sunday. The airplane was halted at the behest of the senior officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The decision was taken after a few pieces of a tyre were found on the runway in Bengaluru airport from where the said aircraft took off earlier.
The civil aviation officials informed the same to the Pune airport officials. After receiving information, the Pune officials inspected the flight and the runway. They found the sidewall of one of the tyres 'cracked'. That the flight has been stopped from further take-offs, the DGCA sources said.
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Only two days ago, the aviation regulator imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on Air Asia India for violating norms in pilot proficiency checks. The head of training at Air Asia has also been suspended for three months for not conforming to the regulatory norms. The action was initiated after doing a surveillance, as per reports.
The DGCA has been stepping up spot checks and immediate actions towards ensuring the safety of the air passengers. Of late, repeated technical snags are being reported on different flights across the country. Also, unsavoury incidents of mid-air brawls and misbehaviour of drunken passengers have taken place aboard some airplanes.
Considering the recent incidents, the DGCA officials have been stressing upon the passenger safety as of paramount importance. At the same time, increased measures are being taken to enhance the comfort and convenience of the passengers. The DGCA is maintaining a strict regulatory protocol on the airlines. Drastic measures were in the past when an airliner was asked to operate just 50 percent of its fleet on account of repeated snags.
