SpiceJet’s False Praise from Aviation Ministry Sparks Internal Investigation

On September 2, SpiceJet released a statement saying it had been praised by the aviation ministry for its excellent customer service. However, this came as a surprise to ministry officials, since no such praise was given. In fact, just four days earlier, the airline had been placed under “enhanced surveillance” by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) due to safety concerns.

An investigation by the ministry revealed that the commendation was fake. It was traced back to an email sent by a staff member at Air Sewa’s control room, who acted without authorization. The employee, hired by a private company managing Air Sewa, has since been fired.

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Officials were shocked by the incident and said the motives behind the employee’s actions are still unclear. They are working on measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Air Sewa is a platform created by the aviation ministry to handle passenger complaints and feedback, including issues with airlines and airports.

SpiceJet, which has been facing financial and operational difficulties since the COVID-19 pandemic, currently has less than 30 operational planes out of a fleet of over 70. The airline recently secured ₹3,000 crore in funding, helping it pay salaries and vendors, and it aims to get 100 planes flying again. The false praise could have been an attempt to boost the airline’s image, as it had just been placed under increased scrutiny by the DGCA.