Surprise inspection The DGCA during surprise inspection found most safety equipment on board Reliance Commercial Dealers Limited’s 14-seater Falcon 900EX beyond expiry dates The aircraft commander was not carrying licence; the co-pilot was not in possession of certain documents; the cabin compartment containing escape rope was found jammed

New Delhi, March 22
The DGCA today grounded a business jet owned by Reliance Industries for carrying expired safety equipment on board and suspended its pilot for flying without a licence.

The aviation regulator, which carried out surprise inspection at Delhi's IGI Airport this afternoon, also searched Jindal Steel and Power Limited's Global Express BD 700 aircraft and found several major lapses, official sources said.

While action against Jindal’s company would be decided on Monday, the Reliance aircraft was grounded immediately, just before it was slated to take off from here, they said.

The action comes at a time when private planes and helicopters are being heavily used as charters to fly political leaders across the country on poll campaign.

Sources said a 14-seater Falcon 900EX, with call-sign VT-ISH and registered in the name of Reliance Commercial Dealers Limited, was grounded after it was found that most safety equipment on board, including a fire extinguisher and personal breathing equipment, were beyond expiry dates. The cabin compartment containing escape rope was found to be jammed, they said.

The aircraft commander was also not carrying his licence when he was asked to show one, they said, adding that the plane was grounded. The co-pilot was not in possession of certain documents which are to be mandatorily carried. DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar said the aircraft would remain grounded till deficiencies were removed, sources said. — PTI