In a major regulatory crackdown, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has removed three senior officials of Air India from their posts over serious lapses in flight crew scheduling. The aviation watchdog found that crew members were being assigned duties without adhering to essential licensing requirements, mandatory rest periods, and operational norms.
According to the DGCA, the airline violated key safety protocols by engaging in non-compliant crew pairings, breaching licensing and recency rules, and operating with a flawed scheduling system.
Taking cognisance of the findings, the DGCA has directed the immediate removal of the three officials involved and ordered the initiation of departmental proceedings within 10 days. The officials have also been moved to non-operational roles pending further action.
The regulator has issued a stern warning, stating that any further violations could attract strict penalties — including license suspension, financial penalties, or even cancellation of operating permits.
Show-cause notice over London flights
In a separate but related development, the DGCA has also issued a show-cause notice to Air India for allegedly violating flight duty time limitations on two international flights operated from Bengaluru to London (AI133) on May 16 and 17, 2025.
The investigation revealed that both flights exceeded the permissible 10-hour duty period as mandated under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 7, Series J, Part III, Issue III, dated April 24, 2019.
The DGCA said that Air India’s accountable manager failed to ensure compliance with flight duty norms and other safety provisions. The airline has been given seven days to respond to the notice and explain why regulatory action should not be initiated.
Failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe could result in ex-parte action, the DGCA warned. Possible consequences may include license suspension, penalties, or other disciplinary measures.
