India launches investigation after pilots accused of forging qualifications

India is checking the creditals of up to 4,000 pilots after it was revealed that four were being investigated for allegedly flying planes, including passenger jets, on bogus qualifications.

These included a pilot working for national carrier Air India, and one employed by budget carrier IndiGo who was investigated after she caused damage to an Airbus A320 while landing.

Civil Aviation Minister Bharat Bhushan told IBN:

"We could see there were some deficiencies in her landing technique. Then I took a look at her record and I could see that she had achieved the license on the basis of marksheets which were not authenticated. So we took a detailed investigation and as a result more names have come up."

The Times of India reported that two other pilots sought by investigators had "absconded" from their homes.

IBN said the IndiGo pIlot had obtained her airline license using forged documents, bypassing the need to rack up mandatory hours of flying experience. Further checks revealed she had failed one examination and missed another.

The investigation has caused alarm in India, which has seen air travel increase in recent years thanks to a booming economy and increased prosperity. The Financial Times says the country has been struggling to find enough qualified pilots.

"Air travellers' biggest fear of being flown by a fake commander is getting even bigger by the day," the Economic Times said.