The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken strict punitive action against Air India following serious safety violations, just days after a catastrophic crash of an Ahmedabad–Gatwick flight that claimed over 270 lives.
Key Developments:
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Three Senior Officials Removed:
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Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President
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Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager – DOPS, Crew Scheduling
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Payal Arora, Crew Scheduling – PlanningThese individuals have been relieved of all crew scheduling responsibilities with immediate effect.
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Serious Violations Identified:The DGCA order dated June 20, 2025, cites:
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Unauthorised and non-compliant crew pairings
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Breaches of licensing requirements and crew rest norms
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Systemic oversight failures during scheduling transitions from ARMS to CAE Flight and Crew Management System
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Directive for Disciplinary Action:
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Air India must initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the three officials.
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A report must be submitted to the DGCA within 10 days.
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The officials are barred from holding operational roles related to flight safety until reforms are concluded.
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Spot Check Triggers More Trouble:
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A DGCA spot inspection found two Air India flights (AI-133) from Bengaluru to London, on May 16 and 17, violated the maximum flight time limit of 10 hours.
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A show-cause notice has been issued to Air India’s Accountable Manager, who has seven days to justify why action should not be taken.
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Context and Consequences:
The harsh action comes amid heightened scrutiny of Air India's safety culture, especially after the June 2025 crash, which is being investigated for possible links to crew fatigue and scheduling lapses. The DGCA’s measures signal zero tolerance for systemic regulatory breaches, especially in the wake of such a major disaster.
This marks one of the most significant regulatory crackdowns on Air India in recent history and underscores the urgent need for reform in flight operations management and crew scheduling systems.
