New Delhi – Air India has received nine show-cause notices from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over the last six months for five separate safety-related violations, the Government of India disclosed during a Rajya Sabha session on Monday.
The disclosures come at a time when the national carrier is under intense scrutiny following the June 12 crash of Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives. That incident triggered a wave of internal audits, public concern, and parliamentary questions about the airline’s overall safety and compliance track record.
🔎 Details of Safety Violations
According to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, the DGCA issued nine notices between January and July 2025 in connection with five different violations. One case has already seen enforcement action, while the others are under review.
The minister did not elaborate on the specific nature of each violation but said they were serious enough to warrant formal notices from the aviation regulator.
“The DGCA has issued show-cause notices in cases where non-compliance was observed. Enforcement action has already been taken in one of them,” Mohol said.
🛫 Inspections Following AI171 Crash
In the aftermath of the fatal AI171 crash, authorities launched a targeted inspection of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which operates many of the airline’s long-haul international routes.
Out of 33 Boeing 787 aircraft, 31 were physically inspected. Minor findings were observed in eight of them, which were promptly rectified, the minister said. All aircraft were cleared for service post-rectification.
Importantly, the government noted that “no adverse trend” had been identified in the airline’s operational reliability data leading up to the accident.
🧭 Regulatory Pressure Mounts
The DGCA has ramped up scrutiny of Air India since the June accident. In addition to the notices:
- The regulator ordered a comprehensive audit of the airline’s flight operations, safety management systems, and crew rostering procedures.
- Three Air India officials were removed from their positions last month over alleged lapses in crew scheduling and compliance.
- Multiple other incidents involving Air India aircraft—ranging from runway excursions to technical snags—have kept the airline under regulatory and media glare.
📉 Reputation and Reform
The Tata Group, which took control of Air India in early 2022, has committed to overhauling the airline’s operations and restoring global credibility. But the safety concerns and recent incidents underscore the magnitude of the challenge.
Despite significant investments in fleet modernization, cabin retrofits, and staff training, these safety notices may erode public confidence if not addressed transparently and systematically.
