In a significant development aimed at keeping Go First, the troubled Indian airline, afloat, the company's lenders have granted approval for interim funding of around Rs 400 crore, according to Moneycontrol, citing sources familiar with the matter. The Committee of Creditors (CoC), which includes the Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Deutsche Bank, and IDBI Bank, voted in favor of the additional funding request, signaling a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to revive the struggling airline.

Lenders pass the ball to DGCA's Court

A top banker, who requested anonymity, disclosed to Moneycontrol that the lenders approved the funding based on Go First's business plan to support the revival of operations. Another source confirmed the approval, stating that the Committee of Creditors granted the interim finance request following a voting process held on Saturday. The cited sources also revealed that the lenders might be open to providing additional contingency funding in the future, if necessary, for specific events.

Go First, previously known as GoAir, currently owes Rs 6,521 crore to its lenders, with Central Bank of India having the highest exposure at Rs 1,987 crore, followed by Bank of Baroda at Rs 1,430 crore, Deutsche Bank at Rs 1,320 crore, and IDBI Bank at Rs 58 crore. The approval of the interim funding offers a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered airline as it seeks to overcome its financial challenges.

The next crucial step in the process lies with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is reviewing an application Go First submitted to resume operations. The airline requires the regulatory authority's clearance to restart flights and begin selling tickets. Sources cited by Moneycontrol indicated that Go First plans to commence operations on July 1, covering 78 routes with a fleet of approximately 22 aircraft. All stakeholders eagerly await the DGCA's decision after completing fleet inspections and other necessary checks.

Indian aviation and the Insolvency Issue

The&nbsp;financial crisis began when the airline filed an application for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 2. This move came after the Wadia Group-owned carrier announced a temporary suspension of flight operations on May 3 and 4, citing a severe fund crunch. The airline attributed its financial difficulties to grounded Airbus A320neos equipped with allegedly faulty Pratt &amp; Whitney engines. However, Pratt &amp; Whitney denied these claims, calling them baseless.

Moneycontrol cited Go First's CEO, Kaushik Khona, as saying that the airline had grounded more than half of its fleet&nbsp;due to the non-supply of engines by Pratt and Whitney. The financial strain Go First faces is the latest crisis in India's fiercely competitive airline industry. Following operational failures, lenders have previously encountered challenges in recovering funds lent to other airlines, such as Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher and Jet Airways.

While lenders have managed to recover a significant portion of the money lent to Kingfisher by attaching the assets of its promoter, Vijay Mallya, the fate of Jet Airways remains uncertain as attempts to rescue the airline are ongoing in the bankruptcy court. Recently, the NCLT granted additional time to bidders of Jet Airways to fulfill their dues.

In a significant development aimed at keeping Go First, the troubled Indian airline, afloat, the company's lenders have granted approval for interim funding of around Rs 400 crore, according to Moneycontrol, citing sources familiar with the matter.

In a significant development aimed at keeping Go First, the troubled Indian airline, afloat, the company's lenders have granted approval for interim funding of around Rs 400 crore, according to Moneycontrol, citing sources familiar with the matter. The Committee of Creditors (CoC), which includes the Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Deutsche Bank, and IDBI Bank, voted in favor of the additional funding request, signaling a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to revive the struggling airline. Lenders pass the ball to DGCA's Court A top banker, who requested anonymity, disclosed to Moneycontrol that the lenders approved the funding based on Go First's business plan to support the revival of operations. Another source confirmed the approval, stating that the Committee of Creditors granted the interim finance request following a voting process held on Saturday. The cited sources also revealed that the lenders might be open to providing additional contingency funding in the future, if necessary, for specific events. Go First, previously known as GoAir, currently owes Rs 6,521 crore to its lenders, with Central Bank of India having the highest exposure at Rs 1,987 crore, followed by Bank of Baroda at Rs 1,430 crore, Deutsche Bank at Rs 1,320 crore, and IDBI Bank at Rs 58 crore. The approval of the interim funding offers a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered airline as it seeks to overcome its financial challenges. The next crucial step in the process lies with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is reviewing an application Go First submitted to resume operations. The airline requires the regulatory authority's clearance to restart flights and begin selling tickets. Sources cited by Moneycontrol indicated that Go First plans to commence operations on July 1, covering 78 routes with a fleet of approximately 22 aircraft. All stakeholders eagerly await the DGCA's decision after completing fleet inspections and other necessary checks. Indian aviation and the Insolvency Issue The financial crisis began when the airline filed an application for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 2. This move came after the Wadia Group-owned carrier announced a temporary suspension of flight operations on May 3 and 4, citing a severe fund crunch. The airline attributed its financial difficulties to grounded Airbus A320neos equipped with allegedly faulty Pratt & Whitney engines. However, Pratt & Whitney denied these claims, calling them baseless. Moneycontrol cited Go First's CEO, Kaushik Khona, as saying that the airline had grounded more than half of its fleet due to the non-supply of engines by Pratt and Whitney. The financial strain Go First faces is the latest crisis in India's fiercely competitive airline industry. Following operational failures, lenders have previously encountered challenges in recovering funds lent to other airlines, such as Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher and Jet Airways. While lenders have managed to recover a significant portion of the money lent to Kingfisher by attaching the assets of its promoter, Vijay Mallya, the fate of Jet Airways remains uncertain as attempts to rescue the airline are ongoing in the bankruptcy court. Recently, the NCLT granted additional time to bidders of Jet Airways to fulfill their dues.

Go First receives Rs 400 crore interim funding from lenders, DGCA approval awaited

An IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Mumbai was diverted to Udaipur and the pilot changed before it finally completed the original intended landing. The flight 6E 2441 departed from Lucknow airport at 11:10 am and was scheduled to land in Mumbai at 1:15 pm.&nbsp;

However, the pilot failed to land the passenger aircraft after doing two go-arounds at the Mumbai airport.&nbsp;A report in HT citing sources said that Mumbai ATC diverted the flight due to the gusty winds brought by Cyclone Biparjoy, which is expected to make landfall in Gujarat on Thursday. Earlier this week, operations had to be temporarily halted at the Mumbai airport due to the cyclone.&nbsp;

While the airline claimed the pilot could not land the plane due to bad weather and had to be diverted, the passengers asserted that the pilot aborted two attempts in Mumbai and another in Udaipur before getting the plane safely on the tarmac.&nbsp;

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The report stated that passengers aboard demanded the airline replace the pilot. Some even took to Twitter to file their complaints with a few tagging Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiaditya Scindia and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as well.&nbsp;

“Flight Indigo 6E 2441 (Lko to Mumbai) not able to land in Mumbai due to poor management of Indigo Team. There are chances either Airbus malfunctioned or pilot not able to handle…Intervention needed," tweeted one passenger.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, IndiGo said the pilot was replaced, not due to pressure from the passengers but because he was fatigued.&nbsp;

“Due to bad weather, the pilot could not land in Mumbai and decided to go to Udaipur… After landing in Udaipur, he said he was fatigued and hence asked for crew replacement. This took some time and the flight left after 6 pm.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-beachgoers-caught-unaware-as-sea-swells-due-to-cyclone-biparjoy-603397" target="_blank">VIDEO | Beachgoers caught unaware as sea swells due to Cyclone Biparjoy</a>

In the end, the airplane landed in Mumbai around 8 pm, much to the chagrin of passengers who had their entire day wasted.&nbsp;

<h2>IndiGo flight veers into Pakistani airspace</h2>

IndiGo was in the news recently when a flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad inadvertently strayed into Pakistani airspace near Lahore before returning to Indian airspace. As per flight radar data, the Indian plane entered the airspace north of Lahore and proceeded further into Pakistani territory, reaching Gujranwala, before finally returning to Indian airspace.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahmedabad-bound-indigo-airlines-flight-veers-off-course-into-pakistan-airspace-report-603142" target="_blank">Also read | Ahmedabad-bound IndiGo Airlines flight veers off course into Pakistan airspace: Report</a>

A senior official from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) mentioned that such occurrences were not uncommon, as international regulations allow aircraft to deviate from their intended flight path in the event of adverse weather conditions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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An IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Mumbai was diverted to Udaipur and the pilot changed before it finally completed the original intended landing. The flight 6E 2441 departed from Lucknow airport at 11:10 am and was scheduled to land in Mumbai at 1:15 pm.

An IndiGo flight from Lucknow to Mumbai was diverted to Udaipur and the pilot changed before it finally completed the original intended landing. The flight 6E 2441 departed from Lucknow airport at 11:10 am and was scheduled to land in Mumbai at 1:15 pm. However, the pilot failed to land the passenger aircraft after doing two go-arounds at the Mumbai airport. A report in HT citing sources said that Mumbai ATC diverted the flight due to the gusty winds brought by Cyclone Biparjoy, which is expected to make landfall in Gujarat on Thursday. Earlier this week, operations had to be temporarily halted at the Mumbai airport due to the cyclone. While the airline claimed the pilot could not land the plane due to bad weather and had to be diverted, the passengers asserted that the pilot aborted two attempts in Mumbai and another in Udaipur before getting the plane safely on the tarmac. Watch | India: INS Vikramaditya, Vikrant lead Navy’s mega ops in Arabian Sea × The report stated that passengers aboard demanded the airline replace the pilot. Some even took to Twitter to file their complaints with a few tagging Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiaditya Scindia and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as well. “Flight Indigo 6E 2441 (Lko to Mumbai) not able to land in Mumbai due to poor management of Indigo Team. There are chances either Airbus malfunctioned or pilot not able to handle…Intervention needed," tweeted one passenger. Meanwhile, IndiGo said the pilot was replaced, not due to pressure from the passengers but because he was fatigued. “Due to bad weather, the pilot could not land in Mumbai and decided to go to Udaipur… After landing in Udaipur, he said he was fatigued and hence asked for crew replacement. This took some time and the flight left after 6 pm.” VIDEO | Beachgoers caught unaware as sea swells due to Cyclone Biparjoy In the end, the airplane landed in Mumbai around 8 pm, much to the chagrin of passengers who had their entire day wasted. IndiGo flight veers into Pakistani airspace IndiGo was in the news recently when a flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad inadvertently strayed into Pakistani airspace near Lahore before returning to Indian airspace. As per flight radar data, the Indian plane entered the airspace north of Lahore and proceeded further into Pakistani territory, reaching Gujranwala, before finally returning to Indian airspace. Also read | Ahmedabad-bound IndiGo Airlines flight veers off course into Pakistan airspace: Report A senior official from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) mentioned that such occurrences were not uncommon, as international regulations allow aircraft to deviate from their intended flight path in the event of adverse weather conditions. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Passengers aboard IndiGo flight get pilot changed after failed landing attempts: Report

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday afternoon, said that a Delhi-Sydney Air India flight was caught in severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday because of which seven passengers were injured. 
 
The national aviation regulator stated that the passengers, who had suffered injuries, were provided with medical treatment on arrival in Sydney and that no one was hospitalised.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-scorpio-bites-woman-on-board-air-india-flight-589789">India: Scorpion bites woman on board Air India flight</a>

<h2>Passengers receive medical aid</h2>

The flight was identified by the DGCA as AI-302 flying a B787-800. The DGCA also stated that first aid was provided by the Air India cabin crew to the injured. 
 
“During the flight, seven passengers reported minor sprain. Cabin crew provided first aid with the assistance of a doctor and a nurse travelling as on the flight, using an onboard first aid kit,” the DGCA official said. 
 
"Air India airport manager at Sydney arranged medical assistance on arrival and only three passengers availed of the medical assistance," stated the DGCA soon after the incident. 
 
While speaking about the incident, an Air India spokesperson stated, “Air India’s flight AI302 of 16th May 2023, operating from Delhi to Sydney encountered turbulence mid-air leading to discomfort to the passengers on board. The flight landed safely in Sydney and three passengers availed of medical assistance on arrival, none of whom required hospitalisation. This onboard incident has been reported to the relevant authorities as a standard practice.” 
 
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the DGCA.

In two years, this is the second time a flight has been caught in severe turbulence which has resulted in passengers getting injured.

On May 1, 2022, a Mumbai-Darbhanga SpiceJet flight which had 195 passengers onboard was hit by severe turbulence because of which many passengers were injured. One of the passengers, who was badly injured, failed to survive after receiving prolonged treatment. 
&nbsp;

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<h2>Scorpion stings Air India passenger</h2>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

A few days back, a “rare incident” was reported on an Air India flight where a woman passenger onboard was stung by a scorpion in April. A doctor had attended to the passenger and she was later discharged. 
 
Explaining the unfortunate incident, an Air India spokesperson had stated, “There was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion stinging a passenger on board our flight AI 630 on April 23, 2023.” 
 
“Upon landing, the said passenger was attended by the doctor at the airport and subsequently was treated at the hospital and discharged. Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger till discharge,” the spokesperson added.

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(With inputs from agencies)

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday afternoon, said that a Delhi-Sydney Air India flight was caught in severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday because of which seven passengers were injured.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday afternoon, said that a Delhi-Sydney Air India flight was caught in severe mid-air turbulence on Tuesday because of which seven passengers were injured. The national aviation regulator stated that the passengers, who had suffered injuries, were provided with medical treatment on arrival in Sydney and that no one was hospitalised. ALSO READ | India: Scorpion bites woman on board Air India flight Passengers receive medical aid The flight was identified by the DGCA as AI-302 flying a B787-800. The DGCA also stated that first aid was provided by the Air India cabin crew to the injured. “During the flight, seven passengers reported minor sprain. Cabin crew provided first aid with the assistance of a doctor and a nurse travelling as on the flight, using an onboard first aid kit,” the DGCA official said. "Air India airport manager at Sydney arranged medical assistance on arrival and only three passengers availed of the medical assistance," stated the DGCA soon after the incident. While speaking about the incident, an Air India spokesperson stated, “Air India’s flight AI302 of 16th May 2023, operating from Delhi to Sydney encountered turbulence mid-air leading to discomfort to the passengers on board. The flight landed safely in Sydney and three passengers availed of medical assistance on arrival, none of whom required hospitalisation. This onboard incident has been reported to the relevant authorities as a standard practice.” An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the DGCA. In two years, this is the second time a flight has been caught in severe turbulence which has resulted in passengers getting injured. On May 1, 2022, a Mumbai-Darbhanga SpiceJet flight which had 195 passengers onboard was hit by severe turbulence because of which many passengers were injured. One of the passengers, who was badly injured, failed to survive after receiving prolonged treatment. WATCH | Air India, Vistara merger kickstarts Scorpion stings Air India passenger A few days back, a “rare incident” was reported on an Air India flight where a woman passenger onboard was stung by a scorpion in April. A doctor had attended to the passenger and she was later discharged. Explaining the unfortunate incident, an Air India spokesperson had stated, “There was an extremely rare and unfortunate incident involving a scorpion stinging a passenger on board our flight AI 630 on April 23, 2023.” “Upon landing, the said passenger was attended by the doctor at the airport and subsequently was treated at the hospital and discharged. Our officials accompanied the passenger to the hospital and offered all support to the passenger till discharge,” the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Air India Delhi-Sydney flight gets caught in severe turbulence; passengers injured

Air India has made the headlines once again, this time for a pilot treating the cockpit as his living room and 'entertaining' a female friend. The incident happened on international flight AI 915 from Dubai to Delhi on February 27th. As per an HT report, the pilot not only mistreated the cabin crew but also endangered the passengers with his actions.&nbsp;

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently investigating the complaint filed by a member of the cabin crew.

The pilot allegedly wanted the cabin crew to make sure that the cockpit, a.k.a., the control centre for the aeroplane, appeared welcoming to his guest.&nbsp;

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As per the complaint, the whole flight was wrought with problems. To start with, the pilots were late;&nbsp;they didn't show up at their reporting time and instead entered the aeroplane late, with the passengers.

Then the pilot against whom the complaint has been filed made demands for a seat upgrade for his friend and when that wasn't available asked for her to be seated in the cockpit. The guest was eventually seated in the first observer seat, which goes against&nbsp;DGCA safety norms.&nbsp;

According to DGCA's Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR): "An employee of the aircraft operator, who has the permission of the pilot-in-command (PIC) and whose duties are such that his/ her entry into the cockpit is necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft can only be allowed in the cockpit provided they have done the mandatory BA tests."

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In addition, the pilot asked her to be served alcohol in the cockpit, a request the complainant denied. Following this, the pilot's behaviour took a dark turn, and he became "snappy and rude," and started treating the cabin crew member "like a servant working exclusively for him."

DCGA said that it was "looking at the technical and safety aspects involved in the matter." Air India too has launched an investigation&nbsp;and has "constituted a committee to investigate the issues raised."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Air India has made the headlines once again, this time for a pilot treating the cockpit as his living room and 'entertaining' a female friend. The incident happened on international flight AI 915 from Dubai to Delhi on February 27th.

Air India has made the headlines once again, this time for a pilot treating the cockpit as his living room and 'entertaining' a female friend. The incident happened on international flight AI 915 from Dubai to Delhi on February 27th. As per an HT report, the pilot not only mistreated the cabin crew but also endangered the passengers with his actions. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently investigating the complaint filed by a member of the cabin crew. The pilot allegedly wanted the cabin crew to make sure that the cockpit, a.k.a., the control centre for the aeroplane, appeared welcoming to his guest. Also read | Research reveals how Artificial Intelligence can help look for alien lifeforms on Mars and other planets As per the complaint, the whole flight was wrought with problems. To start with, the pilots were late; they didn't show up at their reporting time and instead entered the aeroplane late, with the passengers. Then the pilot against whom the complaint has been filed made demands for a seat upgrade for his friend and when that wasn't available asked for her to be seated in the cockpit. The guest was eventually seated in the first observer seat, which goes against DGCA safety norms. According to DGCA's Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR): "An employee of the aircraft operator, who has the permission of the pilot-in-command (PIC) and whose duties are such that his/ her entry into the cockpit is necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft can only be allowed in the cockpit provided they have done the mandatory BA tests." Also read | Artificial Intelligence helps 'solve the mystery,' match medicine to patient, aid in treatment of depression In addition, the pilot asked her to be served alcohol in the cockpit, a request the complainant denied. Following this, the pilot's behaviour took a dark turn, and he became "snappy and rude," and started treating the cabin crew member "like a servant working exclusively for him." DCGA said that it was "looking at the technical and safety aspects involved in the matter." Air India too has launched an investigation and has "constituted a committee to investigate the issues raised." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Air India pilot invites female guest into cockpit; India's aviation regulator launches investigation

A Nigerian passenger onboard a Delhi-Doha IndiGo flight died after a medical emergency, even as the airline made an emergency landing in Karachi to save him. The airline informed that the passenger had fallen ill, forcing the crew of flight 6E-1736 to make a quick call to drop anchor in the southern Pakistani city.

A Nigerian passenger onboard a Delhi-Doha IndiGo flight died after a medical emergency, even as the airline made an emergency landing in Karachi to save him. The airline informed that the passenger had fallen ill, forcing the crew of flight 6E-1736 to make a quick call to drop anchor in the southern Pakistani city. The captain of the aircraft contacted the Karachi Air Traffic Control (ATC) and conveyed the situation whilst seeking permission for the landing. However, upon landing in Karachi, the airport medical team declared the man dead who has been identified as 60-year-old Abdullah, a native of Nigeria. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson in Pakistan confirmed the incident and said the passenger's health had worsened mid-flight. Meanwhile, IndiGo released a statement and offered condolences to the family of the deceased. "Flight 6E-1736, operating from Delhi to Doha was diverted to Karachi due to a medical emergency on board. Unfortunately, on arrival, the passenger was declared dead by the airport medical team," read the statement released. WATCH | Indigo airhostess and passenger in war of words on Istanbul-Delhi flight, video goes viral "We are deeply saddened by the news and our prayers and wishes are with his family and loved ones. We're currently making arrangements for transferring the other passengers of the flight, in coordination with the relevant authorities," it added. After confirmation of Abdullah's death, the body was flown back to Delhi. A death certificate has also been issued. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to launch an investigation and assess if any foul play was involved. The passenger's health history will be looked after before arriving at any final decision. ALSO READ | Indian airline Indigo in talks with Boeing for largest-ever jet order, Airbus to get a tough fight (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Nigerian man dies aboard Delhi-Doha IndiGo flight, aircraft makes emergency landing in Karachi

A new variant of an aircraft made by India's Government-run defence-aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has received approval for carrying out commercial flights for civilians. HAL announced that its modified aircraft received clearance from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Known as ‘Hindustan 228-201 LW’, the aircraft is a modified version of the Dornier-228 that HAL has been licence manufacturing in India. the Dornier-228 has been in use for short-range maritime patrol and surveillance by Indian Navy and Coast Guard.&nbsp;

According to HAL, the DGCA-approved variant has a maximum take-off weight of 5695kgs with 19 passenger seating capacity. With this modification, the aircraft would fall in the Sub-5700 kg aircraft category. HAL says that the variant offers operational benefits for operators such as reduced pilot qualification requirements enabling pilots with Commercial Pilot License to fly the aircraft, enhanced availability of pilot pool for the aircraft and reduced operational cost.&nbsp;

The new variant will also result in reduced training requirements for flying and ground crew including aircraft maintenance engineers, HAL added. The Government-run company also has approval for a 6200kgs variant with the capacity to carry 19 passengers. The added weight would mean the ability to carry more cargo.

In terms of utility for civilian flights, it is foreseen that the new 19-seater aircraft would be flown on the short-flying routes that fall under the Indian Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS). The RCS scheme was initiated with the idea of offering low-cost, enhanced aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities. The number of operational airports in India has significantly increased since the introduction of this scheme in 2016.

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A new variant of an aircraft made by India's Government-run defence-aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has received approval for carrying out commercial flights for civilians.

A new variant of an aircraft made by India's Government-run defence-aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has received approval for carrying out commercial flights for civilians. HAL announced that its modified aircraft received clearance from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Known as ‘Hindustan 228-201 LW’, the aircraft is a modified version of the Dornier-228 that HAL has been licence manufacturing in India. the Dornier-228 has been in use for short-range maritime patrol and surveillance by Indian Navy and Coast Guard. According to HAL, the DGCA-approved variant has a maximum take-off weight of 5695kgs with 19 passenger seating capacity. With this modification, the aircraft would fall in the Sub-5700 kg aircraft category. HAL says that the variant offers operational benefits for operators such as reduced pilot qualification requirements enabling pilots with Commercial Pilot License to fly the aircraft, enhanced availability of pilot pool for the aircraft and reduced operational cost. The new variant will also result in reduced training requirements for flying and ground crew including aircraft maintenance engineers, HAL added. The Government-run company also has approval for a 6200kgs variant with the capacity to carry 19 passengers. The added weight would mean the ability to carry more cargo. In terms of utility for civilian flights, it is foreseen that the new 19-seater aircraft would be flown on the short-flying routes that fall under the Indian Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS). The RCS scheme was initiated with the idea of offering low-cost, enhanced aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and tier III cities. The number of operational airports in India has significantly increased since the introduction of this scheme in 2016. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Made-in-India 19-seater plane 'Hindustan 228-201 LW' gets DGCA nod for civilian flight ops

An Air India flight that took off from Newark in New Jersey, United States, for Delhi was diverted to Sweden capital Stockholm on Wednesday (February 22) following an oil leak incident. A senior official from the Indian aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), quoted in a report by news agency PTI, informed that the oil leak was reported in one of the engines. The engine of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was shut down and the plane landed safely in Stockholm. A ground inspection was initiated and the probe is still on. 
&nbsp; 
This comes two days after another Air India plane from New York to Delhi was diverted to London because of a medical emergency. The passenger concerned, reports said, was taken to a hospital soon after the landing at the Heathrow airport. This, as expected, led to a delay of a couple of hours in arrival at the final destination. &nbsp;

 
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Air India incidents that drew criticism 
The latest incident linked to the Indian airline has drawn the regulator's attention at a time when several domestic carriers are making headlines for wrong reasons, including Air India. Recently the carrier was fined $36,000 after a drunk male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger in November on a New York-Delhi flight. Criticising Air India for handling of the incident, the regulator also penalised the pilot, who lost his license for three months.

Also read: <a href="http://wionews.com/business-economy/air-india-on-a-hiring-spree-with-one-role-paying-as-much-as-rs-2-crore-564281">Air India on a hiring spree with one role paying as much as Rs 2 crore</a>

Days later, the DGCA imposed a $12,000 fine on the carrier for not reporting a similar incident in December. "Enforcement action in the form of the financial penalty of ₹10 lakh has been imposed on Air India for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements," it said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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An Air India flight that took off from Newark in New Jersey, United States, for Delhi was diverted to Sweden capital Stockholm on Wednesday (February 22) following an oil leak incident.

An Air India flight that took off from Newark in New Jersey, United States, for Delhi was diverted to Sweden capital Stockholm on Wednesday (February 22) following an oil leak incident. A senior official from the Indian aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), quoted in a report by news agency PTI, informed that the oil leak was reported in one of the engines. The engine of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was shut down and the plane landed safely in Stockholm. A ground inspection was initiated and the probe is still on. This comes two days after another Air India plane from New York to Delhi was diverted to London because of a medical emergency. The passenger concerned, reports said, was taken to a hospital soon after the landing at the Heathrow airport. This, as expected, led to a delay of a couple of hours in arrival at the final destination. Watch: Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes × Air India incidents that drew criticism The latest incident linked to the Indian airline has drawn the regulator's attention at a time when several domestic carriers are making headlines for wrong reasons, including Air India. Recently the carrier was fined $36,000 after a drunk male passenger urinated on a female co-passenger in November on a New York-Delhi flight. Criticising Air India for handling of the incident, the regulator also penalised the pilot, who lost his license for three months. Also read: Air India on a hiring spree with one role paying as much as Rs 2 crore Days later, the DGCA imposed a $12,000 fine on the carrier for not reporting a similar incident in December. "Enforcement action in the form of the financial penalty of ₹10 lakh has been imposed on Air India for not reporting the incident to DGCA and delaying in referring the matter to its Internal Committee, which is a violation of applicable DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements," it said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Why an Air India Newark-Delhi flight was diverted to Stockholm

At a time when Indian airlines are already facing scrutiny, other instances have come to light. On Monday, Go First, a domestic airline left at least 50 passengers waiting on a shuttle on the tarmac from boarding for their Bengaluru-Delhi flight. The flight left at 6:30 am. The incident prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to send a notice to the airlines. The regulator has also indicated that an investigation is underway. A senior&nbsp;DGCA&nbsp;official told PTI that a report has been sought and 'appropriate&nbsp;action' will be taken. 
 
Meanwhile, multiple passengers on Twitter slammed the airline for the "most horrifying experience."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bengaluru-metro-pillar-comes-crashing-killing-mother-toddler-son-bmrcl-orders-enquiry-551105">Also read |&nbsp;India: Bengaluru Metro pillar comes crashing killing mother, toddler son; BMRCL orders enquiry</a> 
 
A passenger named&nbsp;Satish&nbsp;Kumar on Twitter said, "Flight G8 116 (BLR-DEL) flew leaving passengers on ground! More than 50 passengers on 1 bus were left on ground &amp; the flight took off with just passengers of 1 bus on boarded. Is @GoFirstairways @JM_Scindia&nbsp;@PMOIndia operating in sleep? No Basic checks!"

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Flight G8 116 (BLR - DEL) flew leaving passengers on ground! More than 50 passengers on 1 bus was left on ground &amp; flight took off with just passengers of 1 bus on boarded. Is <a href="https://twitter.com/GoFirstairways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoFirstairways</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JM_Scindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JM_Scindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> 
operating in sleep? No Basic checks. <a href="https://t.co/QSPoCisIfc">pic.twitter.com/QSPoCisIfc</a>
— Satish Kumar (@Satishk98130718) <a href="https://twitter.com/Satishk98130718/status/1612341086428749825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Replying to this, the airline said, “Hi&nbsp;Satish, we are sorry for the inconvenience. We have shared your concern along with your details to our team and they'll assist you at the earliest.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/air-india-passenger-accused-of-urinating-on-woman-co-flyer-sent-to-judicial-custody-for-14-days-550288">Also read |&nbsp;Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days</a>

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Hi Satish, we are sorry for the inconvenience. We have shared your concern along with your details to our team and they'll assist you at the earliest.
— GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoFirstairways/status/1612342249429368832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Another flyer wrote, “Most horrifying experience with @GoFirstairways 5:35 am. Boarded the bus for aircraft 6:30 am. Still in bus stuffed with over 50 passengers, driver stopped the bus after being forced. Flight G8 116 takes off, leaving 50 passengers. Heights of negligence! @DGCAIndia.” 
 
According to reports, a separate flight was arranged by the airline for the forgotten flyers after&nbsp;realising&nbsp;the error. The&nbsp;report also said that amongst 55, 53 flew to the national capital on a separate plane, while the remaining two passengers, they asked for a refund, which was paid by the airline.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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At a time when Indian airlines are already facing scrutiny, other instances have come to light. On Monday, Go First, a domestic airline left at least 50 passengers waiting on a shuttle on the tarmac from boarding for their Bengaluru-Delhi flight.

At a time when Indian airlines are already facing scrutiny, other instances have come to light. On Monday, Go First, a domestic airline left at least 50 passengers waiting on a shuttle on the tarmac from boarding for their Bengaluru-Delhi flight. The flight left at 6:30 am. The incident prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to send a notice to the airlines. The regulator has also indicated that an investigation is underway. A senior DGCA official told PTI that a report has been sought and 'appropriate action' will be taken. Meanwhile, multiple passengers on Twitter slammed the airline for the "most horrifying experience." Also read | India: Bengaluru Metro pillar comes crashing killing mother, toddler son; BMRCL orders enquiry A passenger named Satish Kumar on Twitter said, "Flight G8 116 (BLR-DEL) flew leaving passengers on ground! More than 50 passengers on 1 bus were left on ground & the flight took off with just passengers of 1 bus on boarded. Is @GoFirstairways @JM_Scindia @PMOIndia operating in sleep? No Basic checks!" Flight G8 116 (BLR - DEL) flew leaving passengers on ground! More than 50 passengers on 1 bus was left on ground & flight took off with just passengers of 1 bus on boarded. Is @GoFirstairways @JM_Scindia @PMOIndia operating in sleep? No Basic checks. pic.twitter.com/QSPoCisIfc — Satish Kumar (@Satishk98130718) January 9, 2023 × Replying to this, the airline said, “Hi Satish, we are sorry for the inconvenience. We have shared your concern along with your details to our team and they'll assist you at the earliest.” Also read | Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days Hi Satish, we are sorry for the inconvenience. We have shared your concern along with your details to our team and they'll assist you at the earliest. — GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) January 9, 2023 × Another flyer wrote, “Most horrifying experience with @GoFirstairways 5:35 am. Boarded the bus for aircraft 6:30 am. Still in bus stuffed with over 50 passengers, driver stopped the bus after being forced. Flight G8 116 takes off, leaving 50 passengers. Heights of negligence! @DGCAIndia.” According to reports, a separate flight was arranged by the airline for the forgotten flyers after realising the error. The report also said that amongst 55, 53 flew to the national capital on a separate plane, while the remaining two passengers, they asked for a refund, which was paid by the airline. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Go First’s Bengaluru-Delhi flight took off leaving 55 passengers behind, DGCA seeks investigation

Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak. The event has drawn attention to the issue of misbehavior by disruptive passengers on airplanes. As per the latest developments, Mishra was arrested&nbsp;in Bengaluru days after evading the police.&nbsp;The event first came to light earlier this week, and since then, there have been allegations that the airline failed to act swiftly and appropriately to penalize the accused.

<h2>Who is Shankar Mishra?</h2>

Shankar Mishra, 34, worked at Wells Fargo, a major provider of financial services in the US having its headquarters in California. He was the vice president of the worldwide organisation's India Chapter. He routinely travelled between Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he had offices.

As the scandal made news on Friday, Mishra was fired from the company. In a statement announcing his dismissal, Wells Fargo said that 'it holds its employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, and “we find these allegations deeply disturbing”.

He is a resident of Mumbai and is known as ‘Suraj’ in Kamgar Nagar, where he has been staying for the past 20 years as reported by the Indian Express who spoke&nbsp;to his neighbours.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/response-should-have-been-much-swifter-says-tata-sons-chairman-44-days-after-air-india-pee-gate-550468">Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’</a>

He is an alumnus of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a private university in Mumbai, and is referred to as "Suraj M" on LinkedIn, according to Newsroompost.

<h2>Shankar Mishra's arrest: Case so far</h2>

Mishra is said to have urinated on his woman&nbsp;co-passenger, an elderly citizen in her 70s in the business class of an Air India aircraft on November 26, 2021. He was allegedly intoxicated when the incident took place.&nbsp;

The lawsuit claims that Mishra stood beside the woman's seat even while his body parts were exposed.&nbsp;

He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court.

<h2>What did Air India do immediately after the incident took place?</h2>

The Air India crew allegedly took Mishra to the woman after the episode&nbsp;and told her he wanted to&nbsp;apologise&nbsp;to her, according to NDTV report.

The passenger expressed her disappointment with the cabin staff in a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, claiming that they were insensitive to the circumstances. According to NDTV, the woman said in her letter that she was compelled to face him while he begged for mercy.&nbsp;

As per the latest reports by PTI,&nbsp; a co-passenger on the New York-New Delhi aircraft has claimed&nbsp;that after the Mumbai man urinated on the female co-passenger, the captain made the elderly woman wait for over two hours before assigning her a new seat.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/air-india-passenger-accused-of-urinating-on-woman-co-flyer-sent-to-judicial-custody-for-14-days-550288">Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days</a>

In a handwritten complaint to the airline, Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based audiologist who was travelling to Delhi in business class and was seated next to the accused, said that the woman passenger was forced to return to her soiled seat despite there being four vacant first-class seats.

<h2>What is the action being taken by DGCA?</h2>

In relation to the incident, the airline was asked to submit a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday.&nbsp;“We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told&nbsp;Indian Express.

Air India has imposed a 30-day travel ban on Mishra stating that&nbsp;that the “passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner.”&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShankarMishra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShankarMishra</a>, an Indian man accused of urinating on a female co-flyer during an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirIndia</a> flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21<a href="https://twitter.com/alysonle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alysonle</a> tells you more 
 
For more videos, visit: <a href="https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J">https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J</a> <a href="https://t.co/fVltUiZbOH">pic.twitter.com/fVltUiZbOH</a>
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A police complaint was filed against the accused&nbsp;and the airline said that it would fully cooperate&nbsp;to “ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger.”

<h2>Sanjay Mishra arrested in Bengaluru</h2>

The accused was arrested on Saturday (6 January) in Bengaluru after evading the police for many days. He was allegedly arrested while residing at a homestay in Bengaluru's Sanjay Nagar.

After Mishra retreated and declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Delhi Police filed a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;case was registered against Mishra&nbsp;under sections 294 (obscene act in a public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as under Aircraft Rules, reported&nbsp;India Today.

<h2>What is Shankar Mishra's family saying?</h2>

Speaking to India Today TV, Shyam Mishra, Shankar's father said, "This is a totally false case. My son was traveling from the US. He had not slept for 72 hours. He might have taken a drink on the flight and slept. What happened after that even he doesn't know. It's very difficult to prove."

Additionally, the father denied that his son had peed on the woman. "I don't think he would have done this. The woman is 72 years old, she is like a mother to him," he said, adding that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident.

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Air India pax urinating case of Nov | False case. My son hadn't slept for 30-35 hrs. After dinner, he might've consumed the drink given by crew &amp; then slept. From what I understand,he was questioned by airline staff after he woke up: Shyam Mishra, father of accused S Mishra (1/2) <a href="https://t.co/j90Ze5wNb1">pic.twitter.com/j90Ze5wNb1</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1611378760007421953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Was the co-passenger compensated by Shankar Mishra?</h2>

On Friday, Mishra's lawyers said that their client had compensated the woman with Rs 15,000 and cleaned her belongings.

A statement made by his lawyers, Ishanee Sharma and Akshat Bajpai, stated that the 34-year-old had the woman's clothing and baggage cleaned on November 28 and handed to her on November 30, reported PTI.

The statement read, “The woman in her message has clearly condoned the alleged act and has displayed no intention to lodge a complaint. The lady’s persisting grievance was only with respect to the adequate compensation being paid by the Airline for which she has raised a subsequent complaint on 20 December 2022.”

<h2>Statement from the woman and her relatives&nbsp;</h2>

The woman's relatives allegedly refuted the story and claimed to have given the money back.

According to a PTI report, Mishra allegedly messaged her following the unpleasant event. The chats demonstrate that the lady gave Mishra her phone number and confirmed receiving Rs 5,000. Her daughter and son-in-law, however, were quite angry over the situation. The lady informed Mishra that she had talked them out of complaining because he was so contrite and uninformed of what had happened.

In a string of messages, the woman said that she hoped Mishra will mend his ways. The latter responded by thanking her and promising he will never repeat such an act.

A day later, Mishra informed her about the clothes and shoes that will be “refurbished” in a day or two. He also mentioned having sent her another Rs 10,000 as compensation.

Also watch |&nbsp;Avani Chaturvedi to be first IAF woman fighter pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad

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On the other hand, reports said that on December 19, the woman's daughter allegedly wrote a message claiming that her mother had been traumatised by the incident and that the family was extremely "upset, indignant, and enraged."

The money will be refunded by Paytm&nbsp;and the statement noted that the family did not want it. The woman's daughter further instructed Mishra not to speak to her mother again. Also sent was a screen capture of the money-returning transaction.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak.

Shankar Mishra has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger aboard a New York-New Delhi Air India flight and has drawn a lot of flak. The event has drawn attention to the issue of misbehavior by disruptive passengers on airplanes. As per the latest developments, Mishra was arrested in Bengaluru days after evading the police. The event first came to light earlier this week, and since then, there have been allegations that the airline failed to act swiftly and appropriately to penalize the accused. Who is Shankar Mishra? Shankar Mishra, 34, worked at Wells Fargo, a major provider of financial services in the US having its headquarters in California. He was the vice president of the worldwide organisation's India Chapter. He routinely travelled between Mumbai and Bengaluru, where he had offices. As the scandal made news on Friday, Mishra was fired from the company. In a statement announcing his dismissal, Wells Fargo said that 'it holds its employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour, and “we find these allegations deeply disturbing”. He is a resident of Mumbai and is known as ‘Suraj’ in Kamgar Nagar, where he has been staying for the past 20 years as reported by the Indian Express who spoke to his neighbours. Also read | Response should have been much swifter, says Tata Sons chairman after Air India ‘pee-gate’ He is an alumnus of the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), a private university in Mumbai, and is referred to as "Suraj M" on LinkedIn, according to Newsroompost. Shankar Mishra's arrest: Case so far Mishra is said to have urinated on his woman co-passenger, an elderly citizen in her 70s in the business class of an Air India aircraft on November 26, 2021. He was allegedly intoxicated when the incident took place. The lawsuit claims that Mishra stood beside the woman's seat even while his body parts were exposed. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Delhi court. What did Air India do immediately after the incident took place? The Air India crew allegedly took Mishra to the woman after the episode and told her he wanted to apologise to her, according to NDTV report. The passenger expressed her disappointment with the cabin staff in a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekharan, claiming that they were insensitive to the circumstances. According to NDTV, the woman said in her letter that she was compelled to face him while he begged for mercy. As per the latest reports by PTI, a co-passenger on the New York-New Delhi aircraft has claimed that after the Mumbai man urinated on the female co-passenger, the captain made the elderly woman wait for over two hours before assigning her a new seat. Also read | Air India passenger accused of urinating on woman co-flyer arrested, sent to custody for 14 days In a handwritten complaint to the airline, Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based audiologist who was travelling to Delhi in business class and was seated next to the accused, said that the woman passenger was forced to return to her soiled seat despite there being four vacant first-class seats. What is the action being taken by DGCA? In relation to the incident, the airline was asked to submit a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday. “We are seeking a report from the airline and shall take action against those found negligent,” DGCA chief Arun Kumar told Indian Express. Air India has imposed a 30-day travel ban on Mishra stating that that the “passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner.” #ShankarMishra, an Indian man accused of urinating on a female co-flyer during an #AirIndia flight, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days until January 21@alysonle tells you more For more videos, visit: https://t.co/AXC5qRuO3J pic.twitter.com/fVltUiZbOH — WION (@WIONews) January 7, 2023 × A police complaint was filed against the accused and the airline said that it would fully cooperate to “ensure that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger.” Sanjay Mishra arrested in Bengaluru The accused was arrested on Saturday (6 January) in Bengaluru after evading the police for many days. He was allegedly arrested while residing at a homestay in Bengaluru's Sanjay Nagar. After Mishra retreated and declined to cooperate with the inquiry, the Delhi Police filed a Look Out Circular (LOC) against him. A case was registered against Mishra under sections 294 (obscene act in a public place), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as under Aircraft Rules, reported India Today. What is Shankar Mishra's family saying? Speaking to India Today TV, Shyam Mishra, Shankar's father said, "This is a totally false case. My son was traveling from the US. He had not slept for 72 hours. He might have taken a drink on the flight and slept. What happened after that even he doesn't know. It's very difficult to prove." Additionally, the father denied that his son had peed on the woman. "I don't think he would have done this. The woman is 72 years old, she is like a mother to him," he said, adding that there are no eyewitnesses to the incident. Air India pax urinating case of Nov | False case. My son hadn't slept for 30-35 hrs. After dinner, he might've consumed the drink given by crew & then slept. From what I understand,he was questioned by airline staff after he woke up: Shyam Mishra, father of accused S Mishra (1/2) pic.twitter.com/j90Ze5wNb1 — ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2023 × Was the co-passenger compensated by Shankar Mishra? On Friday, Mishra's lawyers said that their client had compensated the woman with Rs 15,000 and cleaned her belongings. A statement made by his lawyers, Ishanee Sharma and Akshat Bajpai, stated that the 34-year-old had the woman's clothing and baggage cleaned on November 28 and handed to her on November 30, reported PTI. The statement read, “The woman in her message has clearly condoned the alleged act and has displayed no intention to lodge a complaint. The lady’s persisting grievance was only with respect to the adequate compensation being paid by the Airline for which she has raised a subsequent complaint on 20 December 2022.” Statement from the woman and her relatives The woman's relatives allegedly refuted the story and claimed to have given the money back. According to a PTI report, Mishra allegedly messaged her following the unpleasant event. The chats demonstrate that the lady gave Mishra her phone number and confirmed receiving Rs 5,000. Her daughter and son-in-law, however, were quite angry over the situation. The lady informed Mishra that she had talked them out of complaining because he was so contrite and uninformed of what had happened. In a string of messages, the woman said that she hoped Mishra will mend his ways. The latter responded by thanking her and promising he will never repeat such an act. A day later, Mishra informed her about the clothes and shoes that will be “refurbished” in a day or two. He also mentioned having sent her another Rs 10,000 as compensation. Also watch | Avani Chaturvedi to be first IAF woman fighter pilot to participate in aerial wargames abroad On the other hand, reports said that on December 19, the woman's daughter allegedly wrote a message claiming that her mother had been traumatised by the incident and that the family was extremely "upset, indignant, and enraged." The money will be refunded by Paytm and the statement noted that the family did not want it. The woman's daughter further instructed Mishra not to speak to her mother again. Also sent was a screen capture of the money-returning transaction. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Air India 'pee-gate': Who is Shankar Mishra, the man accused of urinating on an elderly co-passenger

In a shockingly bizarre incident, a man allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a woman&nbsp;co-passenger on an Air India flight. The man was drunk when he exposed himself to the woman co-passenger, a senior citizen who was seated on the aisle side in business class of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi.&nbsp;

During the incident, the woman, who was in her seventies, alerted the cabin crew but they failed to apprehend the unruly passenger.

The woman later alleged that the "crew was not proactive in managing a very sensitive and traumatic situation". 
 
Air India has imposed a one-month ban on a male passenger and also lodged a police complaint against him for urinating on a 71-year-woman co-passenger in a drunken state.&nbsp;

An internal committee has also been constituted to "probe the lapses on part of Air India’s crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation", the airline said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-deploys-woman-officer-for-the-first-time-in-siachen-glacier-549256">Indian Army deploys woman officer for the first time in Siachen Glacier</a>

The incident took place on 26th November, 2022 and some action was taken against the man only when the woman sent a letter to N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Group, which owns Air India.&nbsp;

Narrating the incident in the letter, the woman was quoted by the Times of India as saying that soon after "the lunch was served and lights were switched off...another passenger walked to my seats, completely inebriated."

"He unzipped his pants, relieved himself and continued to expose me to his private parts...my clothes, shoes and bags were completely soaked in urine."

The woman also alleged that after the incident, the man was allowed to walk off freely as soon as the plane landed in Delhi.&nbsp;

Air India constituted an internal committee to probe the incident.

"The matter is under government committee and the decision is awaited", an official said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also sought a report of the incident from the airline.

"We are seeking a report from the Airline and shall take action against those found negligent,"&nbsp;the DGCA said on Wednesday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stunning-zero-rhinos-poached-in-the-indian-state-of-assam-in-nearly-45-years-549207">STUNNING! Zero rhinos poached in the Indian state of Assam in nearly 45 years</a>

After urinating, the man continued to stand there, exposing himself and moved only after one of her co-passengers asked him to leave, according to reports.

The woman passenger cleaned herself in the airline lavatory, the crew gave her a set of pyjamas and disposable slippers to change into.&nbsp;

Air India has lodged a police complaint regarding the incident.

The airline&nbsp;has also constituted an internal committee in this incident and recommended putting the male passenger on the 'no-fly list'.

Watch |&nbsp;Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report

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Recently, Air India&nbsp;was also among the few airlines called out by playback singer Benny Dayal for&nbsp;mishandling the instruments of musicians travelling across the country.

"Indigo, Vistara, Air India, SpiceJet, you guys have zero care or concern for a musician's instrument,"&nbsp;Dayal said in a video posted on his official Instagram account.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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In a shockingly bizarre incident, a man allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a woman co-passenger on an Air India flight. The man was drunk when he exposed himself to the woman co-passenger, a senior citizen who was seated on the aisle side in business class of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi.

In a shockingly bizarre incident, a man allegedly unzipped his pants and urinated on a woman co-passenger on an Air India flight. The man was drunk when he exposed himself to the woman co-passenger, a senior citizen who was seated on the aisle side in business class of the Air India flight from New York to Delhi. During the incident, the woman, who was in her seventies, alerted the cabin crew but they failed to apprehend the unruly passenger. The woman later alleged that the "crew was not proactive in managing a very sensitive and traumatic situation". Air India has imposed a one-month ban on a male passenger and also lodged a police complaint against him for urinating on a 71-year-woman co-passenger in a drunken state. An internal committee has also been constituted to "probe the lapses on part of Air India’s crew and address the deficiencies that delayed quick redressal of the situation", the airline said. Also Read | Indian Army deploys woman officer for the first time in Siachen Glacier The incident took place on 26th November, 2022 and some action was taken against the man only when the woman sent a letter to N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Group, which owns Air India. Narrating the incident in the letter, the woman was quoted by the Times of India as saying that soon after "the lunch was served and lights were switched off...another passenger walked to my seats, completely inebriated." "He unzipped his pants, relieved himself and continued to expose me to his private parts...my clothes, shoes and bags were completely soaked in urine." The woman also alleged that after the incident, the man was allowed to walk off freely as soon as the plane landed in Delhi. Air India constituted an internal committee to probe the incident. "The matter is under government committee and the decision is awaited", an official said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also sought a report of the incident from the airline. "We are seeking a report from the Airline and shall take action against those found negligent," the DGCA said on Wednesday. Also Read | STUNNING! Zero rhinos poached in the Indian state of Assam in nearly 45 years After urinating, the man continued to stand there, exposing himself and moved only after one of her co-passengers asked him to leave, according to reports. The woman passenger cleaned herself in the airline lavatory, the crew gave her a set of pyjamas and disposable slippers to change into. Air India has lodged a police complaint regarding the incident. The airline has also constituted an internal committee in this incident and recommended putting the male passenger on the 'no-fly list'. Watch | Tata Group-owned Air India nears historic order for up to 500 jets: Report × Recently, Air India was also among the few airlines called out by playback singer Benny Dayal for mishandling the instruments of musicians travelling across the country. "Indigo, Vistara, Air India, SpiceJet, you guys have zero care or concern for a musician's instrument," Dayal said in a video posted on his official Instagram account. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pathetic! Drunk man urinates on woman in New York-Delhi Air India flight; banned for a month

In a viral video of an incident that took place aboard an Istanbul-Delhi Indigo flight, an air hostess can be seen having a heated exchange with a passenger. Though the war of words happened some time back, it was only after a Twitter user, Gurpreet Singh Hans, shared video clips of the ugly spat that it went viral on social media.&nbsp;

In the video, it can be seen that one of the cabin crew members was serving food to passengers when the incident took place. The argument apparently was about the food being served. The passenger can be seen getting angry and yelling and screaming at the air hostess as he tells her to shut up after she requested him to speak politely with the crew.

Read also | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-airline-website-hacked-by-passenger-after-losing-baggage-467210">IndiGo website 'hacked' by passenger after losing baggage</a>

At one point he asks her why she is yelling and she answers back that it is because he is yelling at them. The air hostess sticks to her ground that as a passenger he cannot disrespect them as they are not behaving badly with him. Another cabin crew member who tried to intervene was also told by the air hostess that he should not speak to her like that as she is also an employee just like them.

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Tempers soaring even mid-air: "I am not your servant" 
 
An <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiGo6E</a> crew and a passenger on an Istanbul flight to Delhi (a route which is being expanded soon with bigger planes in alliance with <a href="https://twitter.com/TurkishAirlines?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TurkishAirlines</a> ) on 16th December : <a href="https://t.co/ZgaYcJ7vGv">pic.twitter.com/ZgaYcJ7vGv</a>
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The matter seemed to take a turn for the worse after the passenger in question referred to the air hostess as a servant. She then retorted saying that she was an employee and definitely not his servant.

While it is unclear whether the tussle started because the crew refused to provide meals or if they ran short of food, the Internet’s reaction regarding the incident was quite clear that they were in favour of the air hostess.&nbsp;

Read also |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-whistleblowers-claim-airline-not-following-standard-procedure-of-maintenance-498225"> IndiGo whistleblowers claim airline not following standard procedure of maintenance</a>

The airline has responded to the fiasco and said that they are aware of the incident that took place on flight 6E 12 from Istanbul to Delhi and that it was related to meals chosen by certain passengers travelling via a codeshare connection. They said that they are looking into the incident and that customers' comfort has always been the top priority. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched an investigation into this matter.

As incidents like these abound, it is important to know what's on the table for both passengers and employees of airlines. Under the updated Aircraft Rules, 1937, there is a provision for marking a passenger as unruly if the person fails to respect the rules of conduct or to follow the instructions of the airport staff or crew members.&nbsp; 
Similarly, passengers can also complain about an unruly cabin or flight crew member to the aviation regulator DGCA or on Air Sewa.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In a viral video of an incident that took place aboard an Istanbul-Delhi Indigo flight, an air hostess can be seen having a heated exchange with a passenger. Though the war of words happened some time back, it was only after a Twitter user, Gurpreet Singh Hans, shared video clips of the ugly spat that it went viral on social media.

In a viral video of an incident that took place aboard an Istanbul-Delhi Indigo flight, an air hostess can be seen having a heated exchange with a passenger. Though the war of words happened some time back, it was only after a Twitter user, Gurpreet Singh Hans, shared video clips of the ugly spat that it went viral on social media. In the video, it can be seen that one of the cabin crew members was serving food to passengers when the incident took place. The argument apparently was about the food being served. The passenger can be seen getting angry and yelling and screaming at the air hostess as he tells her to shut up after she requested him to speak politely with the crew. Read also | IndiGo website 'hacked' by passenger after losing baggage At one point he asks her why she is yelling and she answers back that it is because he is yelling at them. The air hostess sticks to her ground that as a passenger he cannot disrespect them as they are not behaving badly with him. Another cabin crew member who tried to intervene was also told by the air hostess that he should not speak to her like that as she is also an employee just like them. Tempers soaring even mid-air: "I am not your servant" An @IndiGo6E crew and a passenger on an Istanbul flight to Delhi (a route which is being expanded soon with bigger planes in alliance with @TurkishAirlines ) on 16th December : pic.twitter.com/ZgaYcJ7vGv — Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) December 21, 2022 × The matter seemed to take a turn for the worse after the passenger in question referred to the air hostess as a servant. She then retorted saying that she was an employee and definitely not his servant. While it is unclear whether the tussle started because the crew refused to provide meals or if they ran short of food, the Internet’s reaction regarding the incident was quite clear that they were in favour of the air hostess. Read also | IndiGo whistleblowers claim airline not following standard procedure of maintenance The airline has responded to the fiasco and said that they are aware of the incident that took place on flight 6E 12 from Istanbul to Delhi and that it was related to meals chosen by certain passengers travelling via a codeshare connection. They said that they are looking into the incident and that customers' comfort has always been the top priority. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched an investigation into this matter. As incidents like these abound, it is important to know what's on the table for both passengers and employees of airlines. Under the updated Aircraft Rules, 1937, there is a provision for marking a passenger as unruly if the person fails to respect the rules of conduct or to follow the instructions of the airport staff or crew members. Similarly, passengers can also complain about an unruly cabin or flight crew member to the aviation regulator DGCA or on Air Sewa.

WATCH| Indigo airhostess and passenger in war of words on Istanbul-Delhi flight, video goes viral

Survey: 66% of Indian pilots fall asleep in cockpit without alerting crew Why are pilots feeling fatigued? Will DGCA India take timely action?

WION WIDEANGLE | Pilot Fatigue: Inside the cockpit

Taking a welcome step toward inclusivity and breaking the glass ceiling, India's civil aviation regulatory body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday, for the first time, issued medical guidelines that will allow transgenders and non-binary individuals to fly aeroplanes in the country.

Taking a welcome step toward inclusivity and breaking the glass ceiling, India's civil aviation regulatory body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday, for the first time, issued medical guidelines that will allow transgenders and non-binary individuals to fly aeroplanes in the country. DGCA in its circular stated that transgender candidates, who have completed their hormone therapy for transition or have gone under the knife more than five years ago, will be able to fly the planes, after clearing mental health screening tests. The mental health tests will be based on the blueprint laid out by World Professional Association for Transgender Health. “Those transgender applicants who have been taking hormone therapy or had a gender reassignment surgery within the last five years will be screened for their mental health status,” read the circular. As for those individuals who have completed their treatment within the last five years, they will have to undergo not only psychological and psychiatric evaluations but also submit a detailed evaluation from their endocrinologist as well as surgeon about any surgery that might have taken place in the last year. If the candidate manages to tick every single box in the evaluation, then only they will be declared fit and allowed to sit in the cockpits. Furthermore, those on life-long hormone therapy will only be admitted if they can prove that they have reached a stable dose. Read more: India's aviation regulatory body initiates two-month audit as homegrown airlines continue to report snags Meanwhile, those who have started the therapy or gone under the knife only recently will be deemed medically 'unfit' and will have to wait for a period of three months to seek another attempt. “If the applicant is on hormone replacement therapy (as applicable), as with any medication, on commencement of hormone therapy or any change in the drug or adjustment of its dose, the applicant will be declared medically ‘unfit’ for at least three months,” it added. According to DGCA, the medical guidelines are applicable for all categories of pilot's licence viz. private pilot’s licence, student’s pilot licence and commercial pilot licence. However, a caveat of transgender persons being allowed to only fly as first officers has been added. In case a transgender pilot is the pilot-in-command, their co-pilot ought to have 250 hours of experience on that machine. As reported by WION, India's first transgender pilot, 23-year-old Adam Harry was earlier declared unfit for flying an aircraft by the DGCA. It was Adam's efforts that led DGCA to bring about a sea of changes in its policy. Read More: Why has DGCA declared India's first trans-pilot unfit to fly? Later forced to work as food delivery agent (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's aviation body to allow transgender pilots to fly planes; issues guidelines

Indian airlines and their rotten luck with accidents and technical problems doesn’t seem to end. Reportedly, on Tuesday, a Go First airline car nearly collided with the nose wheel of an IndiGo A320neo aircraft at Delhi’s Terminal T-2 Indira Gandhi Airport.

Indian airlines and their rotten luck with accidents and technical problems doesn’t seem to end. Reportedly, on Tuesday, a Go First airline car nearly collided with the nose wheel of an IndiGo A320neo aircraft at Delhi’s Terminal T-2 Indira Gandhi Airport. The IndiGo flight 6E-2022 was being prepared to depart for Patna when a white Swift Dzire car belonging to rival Go First airline came from nowhere and stopped under the nose of the plane. India’s civil aviation regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed that neither did the plane body suffer any damage nor were any aircraft maintenance crew hurt by the rogue car. #WATCH | A Go Ground Maruti vehicle stopped under the nose area of the Indigo aircraft VT-ITJ that was parked at Terminal T-2 IGI airport, Delhi. It was an Indigo flight 6E-2022 (Delhi–Patna) pic.twitter.com/dxhFWwb5MK — ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2022 × Reportedly, the aircraft departed as per schedule as well. Meanwhile, a probe has been initiated into the accident. A video of the incident shows an airport crew blaming the driver for sleeping and nearly ramming into him. However, a breath analyser test for consumption of alcohol conducted on the driver returned a negative result. DGCA has initiated a two-month-long audit The incident comes in the backdrop of DGCA initiating a two-month-long audit to find the reasons for the unusual malfunction problems persisting in Indian planes. The two-month audit was initiated after DGCA, whilst conducting spot checks, found that unqualified and inadequate engineering personnel were greenlighting the flying of planes. As reported extensively by WION, last month, two Indian planes had to land in the neighbouring country of Pakistan after developing technical snags. Read More: India's aviation regulatory body initiates two-month audit as homegrown airlines continue to report snags The first plane to land in Karachi was a Dubai-bound Delhi Spicejet flight on July 6. Reportedly, the plane had developed a fuel issue. However, it was only after the emergency landing that it was revealed that the issue was caused due to a malfunctioning fuel indicator light in the cockpit. In a separate incident, IndiGo’s Sharjah-Hyderbad flight 6E-1406 was forced to land in Karachi. Afterwards, another flight was dispatched to Karachi to fly the passengers back safely. Read More: Three international airlines make emergency landing in India while another Indian aircraft lands in Karachi (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch: A rival airline car nearly collides with a stationary IndiGo plane

After a string of emergency plane landings, India's civil aviation regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a two-month-long audit to find the reasons for the unusual malfunction problems persisting in Indian planes.

After a string of emergency plane landings, India's civil aviation regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a two-month-long audit to find the reasons for the unusual malfunction problems persisting in Indian planes. The two-month audit was initiated after DGCA, whilst conducting spot checks found that unqualified and inadequate engineering personnel were greenlighting the flying of planes. WATCH: What's wrong with India's aviation sector? × The audit seeks to check the equipment used by the airline engineering personnel, their quality assurance system, the roster of aircraft in the air and grounded due to lack of spare parts, the hangars, stores and the maintenance control centre. However, emphasis will be given to gauging the quality of manpower available as there have been reports of increased engineering negligence. Reportedly, IndiGo's maintenance crew had gone the whistleblower route recently and exposed the low-cost carrier for a lackadaisical attitude towards the safety of the aircraft. "The operators to whom you have leased your aircraft are not following standard procedure of maintenance. For the past four days technical staff are on strike and still they are flying the aircraft without proper maintenance and even they are deferring the scheduled maintenance" a letter to Airbus from the maintenance crew read. Read More: IndiGo whistleblowers claim airline not following standard procedure of maintenance The notable 'malfunction' incidents As reported extensively by WION, last week, for the second time in a month, an Indian plane had to land in the neighbouring country of Pakistan after developing technical snags. The IndiGo's Sharjah-Hyderbad flight 6E-1406 was forced to land in Karachi. Later, another plane was dispatched from India to ferry the passengers back to their destination. The first plane to land in Karachi was a Dubai-bound Delhi Spicejet flight that landed in Karachi on July 6. Reportedly, the plane had developed a fuel issue. However, it was only after the emergency landing that it was revealed that the issue was caused due to a malfunctioning fuel indicator light in the cockpit. Similarly, on the night of July 16, an Air India Express flight bound for Dubai was diverted to Muscat after a burning smell was observed in the cabin mid-air. However, the scariest incident of the lot was when Spicejet's Kandla-Mumbai flight made an emergency landing in Mumbai after the outer pane of the windshield cracked at the height of 23,000 feet. In total, SpiceJet has been reported for eight incidents of technical malfunction since last month. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's aviation regulatory body initiates two-month audit as homegrown airlines continue to report snags

With the increasing number of snags in passenger aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a special audit of scheduled flight operators to ascertain whether the airlines are adhering to the laid-down standards.

Indian aviation regulator DGCA begins Airline audit

Airlines in India are reporting multiple technical malfunction incidents over the last few weeks. Indian aviation regulator DGCA has conducted spot checks and found insufficient engineering staff certifying planes.

Technical snags: DGCA finds insufficient engineering staff certifying planes

The Indian airspace appears to be cursed at the moment. As many as three aircraft of International carriers made emergency landings on the tarmac at different airports across the country in the last 48 hours. Meanwhile, another Indian aircraft was forced to land in Karachi, for the second time this month. Technical snags were cited as the reason for all emergency landings.&nbsp;

Earlier on Sunday, IndiGo's Sharjah-Hyderbad flight 6E-1406 developed a technical defect and was diverted to Karachi as a precautionary move. It is being reported that another flight will be dispatched to Karachi to fly the passengers back safely.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/another-indian-plane-diverted-to-karachi-over-technical-defect-passengers-aboard-indigo-fight-safe-498118">Another Indian plane makes emergency landing in Karachi, passengers aboard IndiGo fight safe</a>

Meanwhile,&nbsp;at the Cochin airport, an inbound Air Arabia (flight number G9-426) en route from Sharjah landed in an emergency due to a hydraulic failure on Saturday. According to Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), a full emergency was declared at the airport. However, fortunately, all 222 passengers including seven crew members landed safely.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, an aircraft from Ethiopia's capital city of Addis Ababa with its destination to Bangkok made an emergency drop at Kolkata airport.&nbsp;

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed that the landing was necessitated due to a pressurisation issue. The third incident took place on Friday when Sri Lankan airlines made a desperate landing at the Chennai airport after it developed a hydraulic issue.

Previous incidents of emergency landing

These incidents come in the backdrop of a Dubai-bound Delhi Spicejet flight landing in Karachi, Pakistan, earlier this month after developing a fuel issue. After the emergency landing, it was revealed that the issue was caused due to a malfunctioning fuel indicator light in the cockpit.&nbsp;All the 150 passengers were said to be safe.

However, the scariest incident of the lot was when Spicejet's Kandla-Mumbai flight made an emergency landing in Mumbai after the outer pane of the windshield cracked at the height of 23,000 feet. The DGCA has ordered investigations into the cases but the string of accidents has left the air-travellers apprehensive.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Indian airspace appears to be cursed at the moment. As many as three aircraft of International carriers made emergency landings on the tarmac at different airports across the country in the last 48 hours.

The Indian airspace appears to be cursed at the moment. As many as three aircraft of International carriers made emergency landings on the tarmac at different airports across the country in the last 48 hours. Meanwhile, another Indian aircraft was forced to land in Karachi, for the second time this month. Technical snags were cited as the reason for all emergency landings. Earlier on Sunday, IndiGo's Sharjah-Hyderbad flight 6E-1406 developed a technical defect and was diverted to Karachi as a precautionary move. It is being reported that another flight will be dispatched to Karachi to fly the passengers back safely. Read More: Another Indian plane makes emergency landing in Karachi, passengers aboard IndiGo fight safe Meanwhile, at the Cochin airport, an inbound Air Arabia (flight number G9-426) en route from Sharjah landed in an emergency due to a hydraulic failure on Saturday. According to Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), a full emergency was declared at the airport. However, fortunately, all 222 passengers including seven crew members landed safely. Meanwhile, on Saturday, an aircraft from Ethiopia's capital city of Addis Ababa with its destination to Bangkok made an emergency drop at Kolkata airport. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed that the landing was necessitated due to a pressurisation issue. The third incident took place on Friday when Sri Lankan airlines made a desperate landing at the Chennai airport after it developed a hydraulic issue. Previous incidents of emergency landing These incidents come in the backdrop of a Dubai-bound Delhi Spicejet flight landing in Karachi, Pakistan, earlier this month after developing a fuel issue. After the emergency landing, it was revealed that the issue was caused due to a malfunctioning fuel indicator light in the cockpit. All the 150 passengers were said to be safe. However, the scariest incident of the lot was when Spicejet's Kandla-Mumbai flight made an emergency landing in Mumbai after the outer pane of the windshield cracked at the height of 23,000 feet. The DGCA has ordered investigations into the cases but the string of accidents has left the air-travellers apprehensive. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Three international airlines make emergency landing in India while another Indian aircraft lands in Karachi

India's first transgender pilot, the 23-year-old Adam Harry, has been declared unfit for flying an aircraft by the Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA), though he has a commercial pilot license and is eligible to fly in the United States and South Africa.

While speaking to ANI, Harry said, "I am the first transman person to obtain a private pilot licence and I am planning to pursue commercial pilot training in India for which the government has planned to support me financially. I am very happy about that. I did my private pilot training in Johannesburg in South Africa and it was a one-year course."

"But, soon after I returned to India after completing the course, my parents got to know about my gender identity and they put me under house arrest when I was 19. For around one year I was under 
house arrest," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/udaipur-terror-attack-how-my-hometown-turned-into-a-curfew-zone-494414">Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone &nbsp;</a>

Harry travelled to South Africa's Johannesburg in 2016 to pursue training at Skylark Aviation Academy to become a pilot. However, when he opened up about his gender identity on Instagram, his parents stopped supporting him financially. He tried to complete his studies in Johannesburg while also engaging in part-time work, but he was forced to return home due to a lack of support.

In Ernakulam, he took up various jobs – from food delivery to working in restaurants – to support himself. It was here he met a journalist, who covered his story and put him in touch with the Social Justice Department. While he reached out to them to start a juice shop, the Kerala government offered him a scholarship to pursue his pilot training with the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy under the transgender persons' welfare fund in 2019.

Harry has decided to take the DGCA to court as the institute is planning to return the government scholarship – as he is not undertaking flying lessons but only on-ground classes. He wants the DGCA to stop comparing the bodies of cisgender people to that of trans persons. Instead, look at a person's qualifications.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

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India's first transgender pilot, the 23-year-old Adam Harry, has been declared unfit for flying an aircraft by the Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA), though he has a commercial pilot license and is eligible to fly in the United States and South Africa.

India's first transgender pilot, the 23-year-old Adam Harry, has been declared unfit for flying an aircraft by the Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA), though he has a commercial pilot license and is eligible to fly in the United States and South Africa. While speaking to ANI, Harry said, "I am the first transman person to obtain a private pilot licence and I am planning to pursue commercial pilot training in India for which the government has planned to support me financially. I am very happy about that. I did my private pilot training in Johannesburg in South Africa and it was a one-year course." "But, soon after I returned to India after completing the course, my parents got to know about my gender identity and they put me under house arrest when I was 19. For around one year I was under house arrest," he added. Also Read: Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone Harry travelled to South Africa's Johannesburg in 2016 to pursue training at Skylark Aviation Academy to become a pilot. However, when he opened up about his gender identity on Instagram, his parents stopped supporting him financially. He tried to complete his studies in Johannesburg while also engaging in part-time work, but he was forced to return home due to a lack of support. In Ernakulam, he took up various jobs – from food delivery to working in restaurants – to support himself. It was here he met a journalist, who covered his story and put him in touch with the Social Justice Department. While he reached out to them to start a juice shop, the Kerala government offered him a scholarship to pursue his pilot training with the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy under the transgender persons' welfare fund in 2019. Harry has decided to take the DGCA to court as the institute is planning to return the government scholarship – as he is not undertaking flying lessons but only on-ground classes. He wants the DGCA to stop comparing the bodies of cisgender people to that of trans persons. Instead, look at a person's qualifications. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Why has DGCA declared India's first trans-pilot unfit to fly? Later forced to work as food delivery agent

India's Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to the SpiceJet airline on Wednesday (July 6) after it made multiple emergency landings in the past couple of months. The SpiceJet airline has failed to establish a safe air service due to degradation of safety margin, which is quite evident after several flights were forced to make priority landings.&nbsp;

In a tweet, India's Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said: "Passenger safety is paramount. Even the smallest error hindering safety will be thoroughly investigated &amp; course-corrected".&nbsp;

The DGCA pointed out several instances of SpiceJet's aircraft returning to its originating station or landing at the destination with a degraded safety margin or making an emergency landing at a different location.&nbsp;

In its notice, the regulator said these are due to "poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance actions".&nbsp;

The Indian aviation sector regulator said as per the financial assessment carried out by it in September 2021, SpiceJet has been on a 'cash and carry system' by its vendors. It means they were not being paid on regular basis resulting in a shortage of spares.&nbsp;

The aviation regulator has given three weeks to SpiceJet to respond as to why action should not be taken against it.&nbsp;

On July 5, a Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight made an emergency landing in Pakistan's Karachi. Officials of the aviation regulator DGCA said that the flight was diverted to Karachi as the fuel indicator started malfunctioning.&nbsp;

On the same day, another snag occurred as one more flight made a priority landing in Mumbai. The SpiceJet spokesperson said that the SpiceJet Q400 aircraft was operating SG 3324 (Kandla - Mumbai). During the cruise at FL230, the P2 side windshield outer pane cracked.&nbsp;

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India's Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to the SpiceJet airline on Wednesday (July 6) after it made multiple emergency landings in the past couple of months.

India's Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to the SpiceJet airline on Wednesday (July 6) after it made multiple emergency landings in the past couple of months. The SpiceJet airline has failed to establish a safe air service due to degradation of safety margin, which is quite evident after several flights were forced to make priority landings. In a tweet, India's Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said: "Passenger safety is paramount. Even the smallest error hindering safety will be thoroughly investigated & course-corrected". The DGCA pointed out several instances of SpiceJet's aircraft returning to its originating station or landing at the destination with a degraded safety margin or making an emergency landing at a different location. In its notice, the regulator said these are due to "poor internal safety oversight and inadequate maintenance actions". The Indian aviation sector regulator said as per the financial assessment carried out by it in September 2021, SpiceJet has been on a 'cash and carry system' by its vendors. It means they were not being paid on regular basis resulting in a shortage of spares. The aviation regulator has given three weeks to SpiceJet to respond as to why action should not be taken against it. On July 5, a Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight made an emergency landing in Pakistan's Karachi. Officials of the aviation regulator DGCA said that the flight was diverted to Karachi as the fuel indicator started malfunctioning. On the same day, another snag occurred as one more flight made a priority landing in Mumbai. The SpiceJet spokesperson said that the SpiceJet Q400 aircraft was operating SG 3324 (Kandla - Mumbai). During the cruise at FL230, the P2 side windshield outer pane cracked. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

SpiceJet 'failing to establish' safe and reliable services: DGCA issues show cause notice

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined India's aviation regulator Air Vistara ₹10 lakh for violating safety regulations. The airline has been fined for letting an improperly trained pilot land a flight at Madhya Pradesh's Indore airport with passengers on board.

DGCA fines Indian airline Vistara for letting untrained pilot land flight

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation watchdog in India, imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo on Saturday (May 28). The action was taken against the airline for denying boarding to a specially-abled child at Ranchi airport earlier month.&nbsp;

On May 7, reports emerged that the Hyderabad-bound IndiGo flight left behind the child and their parents at the Ranchi airport. In the aftermath, a DGCA panel decided to issue a show-cause notice to the airline. The authorities cited the event as "inappropriate handling" of passengers.&nbsp;

Now, the fine has been imposed. The regulator slammed the incident. DGCA said the behaviour of the IndiGo ground staff and the handling of the child was "deficient" and it "exacerbated the situation".&nbsp;

It noted, "A more compassionate handling would have smoothened nerves, and calmed the child. It would have obviated the need for the extreme step resulting in denied boarding to the passengers."&nbsp;

"Special situations deserve extraordinary response but the airline staff failed to rise up to the occasion and in the process committed lapses," it added.&nbsp;

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill hailed the decision. He praised BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, his former colleague in the party and now Union Minister of civil aviation, for imposing the fine.&nbsp;

He tweeted, "Good decision by @DGCAIndia @JM_Scindia for imposing fine of Rs 5 Lac on Indigo for not letting a child with special needs board the aircraft - Concept of "no frills" airline does not &amp; cannot mean insensitive "customer service" !"&nbsp;

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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation watchdog in India, imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo on Saturday (May 28). The action was taken against the airline for denying boarding to a specially-abled child at Ranchi airport earlier month.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation watchdog in India, imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo on Saturday (May 28). The action was taken against the airline for denying boarding to a specially-abled child at Ranchi airport earlier month. On May 7, reports emerged that the Hyderabad-bound IndiGo flight left behind the child and their parents at the Ranchi airport. In the aftermath, a DGCA panel decided to issue a show-cause notice to the airline. The authorities cited the event as "inappropriate handling" of passengers. Now, the fine has been imposed. The regulator slammed the incident. DGCA said the behaviour of the IndiGo ground staff and the handling of the child was "deficient" and it "exacerbated the situation". It noted, "A more compassionate handling would have smoothened nerves, and calmed the child. It would have obviated the need for the extreme step resulting in denied boarding to the passengers." "Special situations deserve extraordinary response but the airline staff failed to rise up to the occasion and in the process committed lapses," it added. Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill hailed the decision. He praised BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, his former colleague in the party and now Union Minister of civil aviation, for imposing the fine. He tweeted, "Good decision by @DGCAIndia @JM_Scindia for imposing fine of Rs 5 Lac on Indigo for not letting a child with special needs board the aircraft - Concept of "no frills" airline does not & cannot mean insensitive "customer service" !" WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Civil aviation watchdog imposes fine on IndiGo for not allowing disabled child to board

The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country has been extended till February 28, aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday.

Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020.

However, special passenger flights have been operating between India and approximately 40 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements formed with them.

In a circular on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated: "The competent authority has decided to extend the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of February 28, 2022."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-international-flights-expected-to-return-to-normal-soon-says-aviation-ministry-official-431583">Also Read:&nbsp;India international flights expected to return to normal soon, says aviation ministry official</a>

This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flight specifically approved by the DGCA, it mentioned.

Fights under air bubble arrangement will not be affected, it noted.

The DGCA had on November 26, 2021 announced that India will resume scheduled international passenger flights from December 15, 2021.

Just a day later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA to review its decision in wake of the rising concerns of the COVID-19 variant Omicron.

On December 1, 2021, the DGCA revoked its November 26 decision without saying how long the suspension of scheduled international flights would continue.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country has been extended till February 28, aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020.

The suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country has been extended till February 28, aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020. However, special passenger flights have been operating between India and approximately 40 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements formed with them. In a circular on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated: "The competent authority has decided to extend the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of February 28, 2022." Also Read: India international flights expected to return to normal soon, says aviation ministry official This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flight specifically approved by the DGCA, it mentioned. Fights under air bubble arrangement will not be affected, it noted. The DGCA had on November 26, 2021 announced that India will resume scheduled international passenger flights from December 15, 2021. Just a day later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA to review its decision in wake of the rising concerns of the COVID-19 variant Omicron. On December 1, 2021, the DGCA revoked its November 26 decision without saying how long the suspension of scheduled international flights would continue.

Indian aviation regulator extends suspension of international flights till February

The Taliban want India to resume flights. In a letter to DGCA India, they have requested 'smooth passenger movement' & given their 'highest assurance'. Palki Sharma asks: Do the Taliban's assurances work anymore?

Gravitas: The Taliban wants India to resume flights

Amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Director-General of Civil Aviation on Sunday extended the suspension on scheduled international commercial passenger flights till September 30, 2021, said a circular by the office of DGCA<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/topic/dgca" target="_blank">.</a>

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However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis.

This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA, the circular further said.

<a href="wionews.com/south-asia/us-killed-two-high-profile-isis-targets-in-afghanistan-drone-strike-pentagon-409060">Also read |&nbsp;US killed two 'high profile' ISIS targets in Afghanistan drone strike: Pentagon</a>

"In a partial modification on a circular dated June 26, 2021, the competent authority has further extended the validity of the circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger service to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of 30th September 2021," stated the DGCA<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/topic/dgca" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a>circular.

"This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/topic/dgca" target="_blank">.</a>&nbsp;However, International Scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis," further stated the circular.

Earlier, the scheduled international flights were suspended until August 31, said the circular issued by the DGCA on July 30, 2021.

Amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Director-General of Civil Aviation on Sunday extended the suspension on scheduled international commercial passenger flights till September 30, 2021, said a circular by the office of DGCA.

Amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Director-General of Civil Aviation on Sunday extended the suspension on scheduled international commercial passenger flights till September 30, 2021, said a circular by the office of DGCA. However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis. This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA, the circular further said. Also read | US killed two 'high profile' ISIS targets in Afghanistan drone strike: Pentagon "In a partial modification on a circular dated June 26, 2021, the competent authority has further extended the validity of the circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger service to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of 30th September 2021," stated the DGCA circular. "This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. However, International Scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis," further stated the circular. Earlier, the scheduled international flights were suspended until August 31, said the circular issued by the DGCA on July 30, 2021.

DGCA extends suspension of international flights till September 30

An average economy class ticket on the Mumbai-Moscow flight and Mumbai-Doha flight was priced Rs 43,132 and Rs 11,719, respectively, in July this year, according to the data.

DGCA advises passengers to check fares directly from airline website

According to the data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's domestic air passenger traffic grew 47 per cent in June as compared to May.

World Business Watch: India air passenger traffic grows 47% in June

The world is opening quite fast after months of continuous lockdowns and travel bans. In the latest move, Canada has announced it will open its borders to fully vaccinated Americans next month after a nearly 17-month closure.&nbsp;

But a question that is continuously striking the minds of Indian fliers, airlines and aviation sector employees is when will flying or travelling internationally be without any hassles?&nbsp;

The answer to this question depends on a host of factors. Though trends emerge, flying could become more relaxed by the end of this year for Indians who want to travel overseas, the acceptability at airports will depend on vaccinations.&nbsp;

Domestic flying in India is currently bound by some rules at different airports and between different cities where RTPCR and Corona negative tests are demanded, but flying internationally is currently allowed mostly with restrictions where some countries need vaccine certificates and RTPCR negative test reports, while many others haven't opened flying at all.&nbsp;

Canada is the latest country that has also announced that it is extending the ban on incoming passenger flights from India for another month, while last week, Oman did so for fliers coming from India.&nbsp;

In some good news for Indian travellers, France has announced it will now allow travellers from overseas who have had Covishield, AstraZeneca’s Indian-manufactured vaccine, into the country, while the United States has lowered its travel advisory for India from the highest level of 4 'do not travel' to level 3 'reconsider travel' as the COVID-19 cases in India have dropped significantly.&nbsp;

There are around 17 European countries that currently allow Indian travellers to be vaccinated with Covishield, including Austria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Latvia, while Estonia is the only country that has approved both Covishield and Covaxin.&nbsp;

Switzerland, which is not part of the 27-member bloc European Union, has allowed Covishield vaccinated Indians to enter its borders, but Italy and a few other European nations have not approved Covishield yet, and the Indian manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, Serum Institue of India (SII), claims it has not applied to these countries for approval. Experts predict it is only a matter of time before nations start recognising India's Covaxin, which is manufactured by Bharat Biotech.&nbsp;

WHO approval for Covaxin is expected to come by August or September. India has already urged the European Union member states to recognise both Covishied and Covaxin in their list of vaccine passports and to accept the vaccination certificates issued through the CoWIN portal.&nbsp;

Experts say as soon as both vaccines are recognised equally by countries and nations start allowing inbound flights, there could be relaxations seen in international travel, to and from India.&nbsp;

Keeping that in mind, in the recently released economic relief measures, India will offer half a million tourist visas free of cost to inbound travellers.&nbsp;

Recently, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI) has recommended during a meeting with the health ministry that passengers who have received both their doses can avoid quarantine and COVID-19 testing during inter-state travel.&nbsp;

This shows more relaxation is coming back. Among other countries that require either Covishield vaccination or a negative RTPCR report or both, countries like Russia need a negative RTPCR plus Rapid test, Egypt needs a negative RTPCR report, while South Africa will allow entry if you have taken Covishield.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

The world is opening quite fast after months of continuous lockdowns and travel bans. In the latest move, Canada has announced it will open its borders to fully vaccinated Americans next month after a nearly 17-month closure.

The world is opening quite fast after months of continuous lockdowns and travel bans. In the latest move, Canada has announced it will open its borders to fully vaccinated Americans next month after a nearly 17-month closure. But a question that is continuously striking the minds of Indian fliers, airlines and aviation sector employees is when will flying or travelling internationally be without any hassles? The answer to this question depends on a host of factors. Though trends emerge, flying could become more relaxed by the end of this year for Indians who want to travel overseas, the acceptability at airports will depend on vaccinations. Domestic flying in India is currently bound by some rules at different airports and between different cities where RTPCR and Corona negative tests are demanded, but flying internationally is currently allowed mostly with restrictions where some countries need vaccine certificates and RTPCR negative test reports, while many others haven't opened flying at all. Canada is the latest country that has also announced that it is extending the ban on incoming passenger flights from India for another month, while last week, Oman did so for fliers coming from India. In some good news for Indian travellers, France has announced it will now allow travellers from overseas who have had Covishield, AstraZeneca’s Indian-manufactured vaccine, into the country, while the United States has lowered its travel advisory for India from the highest level of 4 'do not travel' to level 3 'reconsider travel' as the COVID-19 cases in India have dropped significantly. There are around 17 European countries that currently allow Indian travellers to be vaccinated with Covishield, including Austria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Latvia, while Estonia is the only country that has approved both Covishield and Covaxin. Switzerland, which is not part of the 27-member bloc European Union, has allowed Covishield vaccinated Indians to enter its borders, but Italy and a few other European nations have not approved Covishield yet, and the Indian manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, Serum Institue of India (SII), claims it has not applied to these countries for approval. Experts predict it is only a matter of time before nations start recognising India's Covaxin, which is manufactured by Bharat Biotech. WHO approval for Covaxin is expected to come by August or September. India has already urged the European Union member states to recognise both Covishied and Covaxin in their list of vaccine passports and to accept the vaccination certificates issued through the CoWIN portal. Experts say as soon as both vaccines are recognised equally by countries and nations start allowing inbound flights, there could be relaxations seen in international travel, to and from India. Keeping that in mind, in the recently released economic relief measures, India will offer half a million tourist visas free of cost to inbound travellers. Recently, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI) has recommended during a meeting with the health ministry that passengers who have received both their doses can avoid quarantine and COVID-19 testing during inter-state travel. This shows more relaxation is coming back. Among other countries that require either Covishield vaccination or a negative RTPCR report or both, countries like Russia need a negative RTPCR plus Rapid test, Egypt needs a negative RTPCR report, while South Africa will allow entry if you have taken Covishield. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

WINGS & WHEELS | COVID-19 flight ban: When will flying be unhindered?

The ban on international commercial flights has been extended by the Indian government until July 31, according to a circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday.

After a 15-month break, the restriction on scheduled international flights was set to be lifted on June 30.

"In partial modification of circular dated 26-06-2020, the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs 1ST of 31st July, 2021," the DGCA circular said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/nlbBJRKUTb">pic.twitter.com/nlbBJRKUTb</a>
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGCAIndia/status/1410128228971286533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The ban, however, will not apply to DGCA-approved foreign all-cargo operations flights.

It further stated that the competent authorities may, on a case-by-case basis, authorise international scheduled flights on certain routes.

Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India from March 23, 2020.

Special international flights, however, have been running under the Vande Bharat Mission since May of last year, and under bilateral "air bubble" agreements with a few countries since July. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The ban on international commercial flights has been extended by the Indian government until July 31, according to a circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday.

The ban on international commercial flights has been extended by the Indian government until July 31, according to a circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday. After a 15-month break, the restriction on scheduled international flights was set to be lifted on June 30. "In partial modification of circular dated 26-06-2020, the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs 1ST of 31st July, 2021," the DGCA circular said. pic.twitter.com/nlbBJRKUTb — DGCA (@DGCAIndia) June 30, 2021 × The ban, however, will not apply to DGCA-approved foreign all-cargo operations flights. It further stated that the competent authorities may, on a case-by-case basis, authorise international scheduled flights on certain routes. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India from March 23, 2020. Special international flights, however, have been running under the Vande Bharat Mission since May of last year, and under bilateral "air bubble" agreements with a few countries since July. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: India extends ban on international flights till July 31

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till June 30, aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday.

"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-india-extends-ban-on-international-passenger-flights-till-april-14-288738">Coronavirus: India extends ban on international passenger flights till April 14</a>

Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus pandemic</a>. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020, and under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with select countries since July 2020.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-establishes-air-bubbles-with-us-france-international-flights-from-july-17-313898">India establishes 'air bubbles' with US, France; international flights from July 17</a>

India has formed air bubble pacts with around 27 countries including the US, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

The DGCA's Friday circular also said that the suspension does not affect international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-government-announces-graded-relaxation-on-international-travel-337089">Indian government announces graded relaxation on international travel</a>

The decision to extend the suspension on scheduled international passenger flights comes as India battles a second wave of coronavirus, even though daily cases have seen a steady decline over the past several days.

The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till June 30, aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday. "However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added.

The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till June 30, aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday. "However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added. Also Read | Coronavirus: India extends ban on international passenger flights till April 14 Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020, and under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with select countries since July 2020. Also Read | India establishes 'air bubbles' with US, France; international flights from July 17 India has formed air bubble pacts with around 27 countries including the US, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories. The DGCA's Friday circular also said that the suspension does not affect international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it. Also Read | Indian government announces graded relaxation on international travel The decision to extend the suspension on scheduled international passenger flights comes as India battles a second wave of coronavirus, even though daily cases have seen a steady decline over the past several days.

International flights suspension extended till June 30: Indian aviation body

Aircrew will be medically unfit for flying for 48 hours after the Covid-19 vaccination, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation watchdog, said on Tuesday in its guidelines for 'Temporary Unfitness for Flying'.

In the guidelines, the DGCA said Aircrew will be monitored for 30 minutes at the COVID-19 vaccination centre for any anaphylactic or idiosyncratic reaction.

"Aircrew will be "Medically Unfit for Flying for 48 hours after vaccination...If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, the aircrew is fit to resume 'unrestricted' flying duties," the guidelines stated.

"If, after 48 hours, the pilots experience any symptoms," DGCA said they will be reviewed by the treating physician.

"Such pilots can be declared fit for flying duties provided they are asymptomatic without any medications and a medical cure certificate to this effect to be obtained," it added.

The guidelines said that if the medical unfitness period of aircrew member post COVID-19 vaccination is more than 14 days, then a special medical examination will be required to ascertain fitness for flying of the aircrew.

The vaccination drive for persons above 60 years and those above 45 with comorbidities is already going on.

Aircrew will be medically unfit for flying for 48 hours after the Covid-19 vaccination, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation watchdog, said on Tuesday in its guidelines for 'Temporary Unfitness for Flying'.

Aircrew will be medically unfit for flying for 48 hours after the Covid-19 vaccination, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation watchdog, said on Tuesday in its guidelines for 'Temporary Unfitness for Flying'. In the guidelines, the DGCA said Aircrew will be monitored for 30 minutes at the COVID-19 vaccination centre for any anaphylactic or idiosyncratic reaction. "Aircrew will be "Medically Unfit for Flying for 48 hours after vaccination...If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, the aircrew is fit to resume 'unrestricted' flying duties," the guidelines stated. "If, after 48 hours, the pilots experience any symptoms," DGCA said they will be reviewed by the treating physician. "Such pilots can be declared fit for flying duties provided they are asymptomatic without any medications and a medical cure certificate to this effect to be obtained," it added. The guidelines said that if the medical unfitness period of aircrew member post COVID-19 vaccination is more than 14 days, then a special medical examination will be required to ascertain fitness for flying of the aircrew. The vaccination drive for persons above 60 years and those above 45 with comorbidities is already going on.

Aircrew 'medically unfit' for flying for 48 hours post Covid-19 vaccination: DGCA

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