In response to recent reports of flight cancellations and ongoing financial difficulties faced by SpiceJet, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced that the airline will be placed under enhanced surveillance with immediate effect. The aviation regulator’s decision follows a special audit of SpiceJet’s engineering facilities, conducted earlier this month, which uncovered several deficiencies.
The DGCA’s statement highlighted that the audit, carried out on August 7th and 8th, 2024, revealed significant issues within the airline’s engineering operations.
“Based on reports of cancellation of flights and financial stress being experienced by SpiceJet, a special audit of SpiceJet engineering facilities was conducted on 7th and 8th August 2024, which has revealed certain deficiencies,” the statement said.
This is not the first time SpiceJet has come under scrutiny from the DGCA. In 2022, after a series of incidents involving the airline’s fleet, the DGCA initiated a special drive of spot checks.
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During this period, SpiceJet was only permitted to release aircraft for operations once it had confirmed to the DGCA that all reported defects or malfunctions had been rectified. The airline was again placed under enhanced surveillance in 2023, primarily due to reports of financial stress.
“In light of the past record and the special audit carried out in August 2024, SpiceJet has once again been placed under enhanced surveillance with immediate effect. This would entail an increase in the number of spot checks and night surveillance with a view to ensure safety of operations,” the DGCA added.
The move comes as SpiceJet continues to navigate multiple challenges, including financial and legal woes. The enhanced surveillance measures are intended to ensure that safety standards are maintained, particularly as the airline deals with operational disruptions.
SpiceJet has yet to issue a response to the DGCA’s latest directive. However, the increased scrutiny from the aviation regulator underscores the seriousness of the concerns surrounding the airline’s operational safety and financial stability.
