India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a sharp warning to Air India over systemic failures in crew fatigue management, training compliance, and operational oversight. The warnings stem from internal documents and government notices obtained by Reuters and others, outlining serious and repeated violations across multiple safety domains.
📌 DGCA’s Findings: 29 Violations Across Key Safety Areas
The four official notices, dated July 23, 2025, highlight a total of 29 violations, including:.
- Pilot fatigue & rest: Instances where pilots were not granted mandated weekly rest—identified in June 2024 and June 2025.
- Training lapses:
- At least two pilots completed simulator training but did not fly within the prescribed period, invalidating the certification.
- A pilot operated a flight to Kathmandu without completing mandatory high‑altitude runway simulation training.F
- Cabin crew shortfall: Four ultra-long-haul international flights in April‑May operated with fewer than the mandatory 15 cabin crew members (two flights had just 12 crew).
🚨 Systemic Governance Failures and Executive Accountability
DGCA emphasized that despite repeated warnings and enforcement, compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance remain unresolved—indicating a breakdown in internal control mechanisms.The recurrence of violations suggests weak oversight and inconsistent application of disciplinary processes.
Notably, the warning letters were addressed to senior airline officials, including the Director of Flight Operations (Pankul Mathur) and the Director of Training (Amar Bhatia). Potential penalties include fines, removal of executives, or even revocation of Air India’s operating license if compliance issues persist.
🧩 Crew Scheduling Review & Official Removals
Earlier in June, following a post-transition audit from Air India’s old crew management system (ARMS) to CAE’s platform, the DGCA ordered the removal of three rostering officials—Choorah Singh, Pinky Mittal and Payal Arora—from operational roles due to repeated violations in licensing, rest compliance, and crew pairing norms. Internal disciplinary proceedings were mandated with a ten-day report-back requirement.
💼 Air India’s Response
Air India acknowledged that these lapses were identified through voluntary disclosures made over the past year and committed to responding to DGCA within the stipulated timeframe. The airline reaffirmed its commitment to safety and said it was investing in people, processes, and systems to strengthen its safety culture.
🧠 Safety Implications & Industry Context
Fatigue management and training adherence are recognized globally as critical to safe operations. Fatigued pilots are linked to memory lapses, slower reaction times, and impaired decision-making—factors strongly correlated with aviation accidents.
DGCA’s heightened scrutiny comes amid rising regulatory pressure and follows the June 12 crash of AI 171, in which the Dreamliner lost thrust shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people. The crash intensified focus not only on technical aspects, but also on crew preparedness and airline oversight.
