Saturday, June 21, 2025
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken strong action against Air India following repeated and serious violations of crew safety regulations. The airline has been ordered to remove three senior officials from the crew scheduling department due to their direct involvement in the breaches. This action marks a significant response from the aviation regulator in its efforts to enforce strict safety standards across the industry.
The DGCA’s intervention comes after Air India voluntarily reported violations involving the scheduling of flight crew in contravention of established licensing, flight duty time, and rest period regulations—critical components of flight safety. These regulations are designed to prevent fatigue-related incidents and ensure that crew members are fit for duty, an essential aspect of aviation safety.
The airline’s internal review, conducted after the shift to a new flight and crew management system, revealed several violations. These breaches were most noticeable in the scheduling of long-haul flights. Specifically, pilots on two different occasions operating between Bangalore and London exceeded the legally mandated flight duty hours, violating the established safety limits.
The DGCA issued a show cause notice to Air India’s Accountable Manager following a spot check of two specific flights, identified as Al133, which operated on May 16 and May 17, 2025. Both flights were found to have exceeded the safety limit of 10 hours for flight time, an infringement that puts crew members and passengers at risk.
As part of its corrective action, the DGCA has demanded the removal of Choorah Singh, the Divisional Vice President, Pinky Mittal, the Chief Manager of DOPS Crew Scheduling, and Payal Arora, who held a key position in Crew Scheduling Planning.The airline has been directed to commence immediate disciplinary action against these officials. These individuals have been directly linked to the violations, which stemmed from poor management of crew scheduling, causing repeated breaches of vital safety protocols.
In addition to the removal of key personnel, the DGCA has stipulated that the officials under investigation must be reassigned to non-operational roles. They are barred from holding any positions that could influence flight safety or crew compliance until the outcomes of the internal proceedings are reported back to the regulator. The report must be submitted within 10 days of the order.
The DGCA’s letter, issued on June 20, also highlights the regulatory body’s stringent stance on ensuring compliance. Any future violations related to flight crew scheduling, licensing, or duty time limitations, whether discovered in audits or routine inspections, will result in severe enforcement actions. These could include penalties, the suspension of licenses, or even the withdrawal of Air India’s operating permits if violations continue.
In response to the DGCA’s directive, Air India has acknowledged the issues and is taking immediate steps to address the violations. A representative from the airline confirmed that the company has complied with the regulator’s directive, appointing the Chief Operations Officer to directly oversee the airline’s Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) to guarantee full adherence to the regulations. Air India also assured that it remains committed to adhering to safety protocols and maintaining standard operational practices across its fleet.
The timing of this investigation is significant, as it coincides with ongoing inquiries into the tragic Air India crash that occurred on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad. That incident, which resulted in the loss of over 270 lives, is currently under investigation, adding additional pressure on the airline to improve its safety procedures and ensure full regulatory compliance.
This latest incident comes amid the upcoming implementation of revised pilot duty norms, which were ordered by the Delhi High Court earlier in February. The new regulations, set to come into effect in phases starting July 1, 2025, will introduce stricter guidelines on flight crew duty and rest hours. Notably, the minimum weekly rest period for pilots will increase from 36 to 48 hours, and night operations will be limited to a maximum of two landings per shift.
The revisions aim to address growing concerns about pilot fatigue, which has become an increasingly important issue in the aviation industry. The DGCA’s commitment to enforcing these changes stems from consultations with airline operators, pilot associations, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, reflecting a collaborative approach to improving flight safety in India.
These measures, along with the recent actions taken against Air India, signal the DGCA’s unyielding stance on crew safety and regulatory adherence. By tightening enforcement and holding airlines accountable, the DGCA aims to prevent further incidents and ensure that India’s aviation industry operates at the highest safety standards.
With the airline industry under increasing scrutiny, it is clear that the DGCA’s oversight and the implementation of stricter crew duty regulations will play a crucial role in shaping the future of air travel safety in India. The regulatory actions taken against Air India should serve as a reminder to all operators about the importance of compliance with established safety standards and the severe consequences of failing to do so.
