New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s top aviation safety regulator, has issued a sharp warning to Air India for consistently breaching prescribed flight duty limitations for pilots. The latest reprimand follows the airline’s failure to adhere to mandated duty-hour rules during long-haul flights in mid-May, sparking fresh concerns about the airline’s internal compliance and crew management systems.
The violations were linked to Air India’s Bengaluru–London services on May 16 and 17, where pilots reportedly exceeded the permissible 10-hour flight duty period. The DGCA, in its order dated June 20, stated that such actions compromised aviation safety and highlighted the “serious and repeated” nature of these breaches.
In a significant step, the DGCA has ordered the removal of three key officials from the airline’s scheduling department. This includes a divisional vice-president, the chief manager responsible for crew scheduling, and another scheduling executive. The watchdog accused the airline of allowing “systemic scheduling failures” and pointed out that there had been no accountability measures initiated by the airline's management against those responsible.
This isn’t the first time Air India has come under regulatory scrutiny. In May, DGCA inspections revealed additional lapses most notably, the operation of three Airbus aircraft without proper checks on their emergency escape slides. The airline was cautioned, and DGCA emphasized the need for strict adherence to safety protocols.
While the recent warning is not directly tied to the June 12 incident where an Air India Boeing 787-8 crash-landed in Ahmedabad, it has nevertheless heightened public and regulatory concern over the flag carrier’s safety culture. This particular case has intensified broader scrutiny of Air India’s operations, particularly under the stewardship of the Tata Group, which has been striving to revamp and modernize the airline’s reputation.
Air India has acknowledged the DGCA’s directive and stated that it is complying fully. The airline has handed over oversight of crew scheduling to its Chief Operations Officer and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest safety standards. It also promised to strengthen internal checks and ensure that such oversights are not repeated.
Notably, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express were among the most heavily penalized carriers by the DGCA in the previous year. A major fine of $127,000 was imposed on the airline for inadequate oxygen systems on several international flights, underlining recurring safety management gaps.
As the national carrier seeks to regain its status as a world-class airline, industry experts say that consistent regulatory compliance and an overhaul of operational discipline will be critical to restoring confidence among passengers and aviation authorities alike.