DGCA Takes Air India to Task Over 'Systemic Errors'

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered Air India to remove three of its staffers from crucial operational duties and issued a stern warning for "repeated and serious violations" related to pilot duty scheduling and oversight, with the regulator stating it could suspend the airline's licence in case of future breaches.

- Neha LM Tripathi

The regulator cited what it said were "systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability" — a strongly worded rebuke that poses questions about the airline's processes intrinsic to passenger safety.

Air India faces intense scrutiny following the June 12 crash of its London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 of 242 people aboard and at least 30 more on the ground.

Two more documents seen by HT suggest the regulator was in the midst of further ramping up scrutiny on the airline, including by initiating a compilation of all audits and checks carried out on Air India since 2024.

The regulator and Air India did not respond to requests for a comment on whether the order dated June 20 was related to the crash in Ahmedabad this month.

At least three experts HT spoke to welcomed the scrutiny and the reviews, but questioned if there was inadequate regulatory oversight before.

"Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses," the DGCA stated in its enforcement order.

"These officials have been involved in serious and repeated lapses." The regulator warned that "any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any postaudit or inspection, will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as cable."