The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has barred 90 pilots of low-cost airline SpiceJet from flying operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft as they have not undergone proper simulator training to operate the aircraft.

The 90 pilots will have to go through proper training on the Boeing Max simulator before they can fly these planes again.

These pilots will have to undergo training again to the satisfaction of DGCA," DGCA Director General Arun Kumar said.

"SpiceJet currently operates 11 MAX aircraft and about 144 pilots are required to operate them", DGCA said.

Since Spicejet has 650 trained pilots to fly Boeing MAX planes, it still has as many as 560 pilots to continue flying the planes.

SpiceJet is facing a cash crunch so the DGCA is keeping a close watch on the airline to ensure that it does not compromise on air safety merely to save costs, an official told Indian Narrative.