Air India Faces Regulatory Action After Flight Crew Scheduling Violations

Regulatory Action Against Air India Officials

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's aviation regulator, has mandated immediate action against three senior officials of Air India due to serious and repeated violations related to flight crew scheduling. These issues, voluntarily reported by the airline, revealed that flight crews were scheduled and operated without meeting essential licensing, rest, and recency requirements.

The violations were identified during a review following the transition from the Aviation Resource Management System (ARMS) to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System.

Investigation Following a Tragic Incident

This directive comes as part of a comprehensive investigation into potential operational shortcomings linked to the crash of flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. Tragically, the incident resulted in the deaths of all 241 individuals on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, along with several casualties on the ground.

Further Actions by DGCA

In a related development, the DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to the airline's accountable manager, highlighting violations of flight duty regulations discovered during a spot check. According to the regulator, the official operated two back-to-back long-haul flights from Bengaluru to London (AI133) on May 16 and 17, both exceeding the permissible flight time limit of 10 hours. The DGCA has requested the official to explain within seven days why enforcement action should not be taken for these violations.

Additionally, the DGCA has instructed that internal disciplinary proceedings against all involved officials commence without delay, with results to be reported within ten days.

Increased Scrutiny in Aviation Sector

Sources within the aviation sector indicate that the three officials who were removed were directly responsible for planning crew rosters and duty cycles, critical tasks that ensure compliance with safety regulations regarding pilots' working hours and rest periods. This action signals a tightening of oversight following what is considered one of India's worst aviation disasters.