Air India’s management, under fire for past financial decisions, must be left alone by the government to have a chance for survival, says a new report by a nodal public auditing agency. The Indian comptroller and auditor general (CAG), in a Sept. 8 report to parliament, recommends “a total hands-off approach” with regard to managing the airline. It says Air India has “inherent strengths,” but there is no evidence that the Civil Aviation Ministry has given the carrier positive support in the past few years.

BMI is making a foray into the burgeoning Indian aviation market by launching a direct flight between London and the northern Indian town of Amritsar, beginning Oct. 14. The airline will operate the Airbus A330-200 in the market, offering initially three flights a week, says Vikas Mathur, the company’s sales manager for India. “Traditionally, Punjab and the United Kingdom share deep and strong business and social relations. We are glad to offer customers from Amritsar the most convenient and shortest route to travel to London,” Mathur says.

NEW DELHI — The Indian Air Force (IAF) lost yet another MiG-21 fighter jet in a crash Sept. 6, nearly a week after the chief of the service announced that only experienced pilots will be allowed to fly the Soviet-era aircraft starting next year. The combat aircraft crashed when the rookie pilot was on a routine training sortie in northern India’s Punjab province. The pilot bailed out safely.