Air India Faces Disciplinary Action Following Serious Safety Violations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has mandated Air India to dismiss three officials due to significant safety violations related to crew scheduling. This action follows a tragic incident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff, raising concerns about operational safety. The airline is now required to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings and has committed to enhancing compliance with safety protocols. As Air India navigates these challenges, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of its operations and restoring public confidence.
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Air India Faces Disciplinary Action Following Serious Safety Violations

DGCA Takes Action Against Air India Officials


On Saturday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated Air India to dismiss three officials, including a senior member from the flight operations team, from their crew rostering responsibilities, as reported by a news outlet.


This decision was prompted by identified "systemic failures" and numerous breaches regarding the scheduling and operation of flight crew, despite issues related to licensing, rest periods, and recency requirements, according to the order.


Additionally, the airline has been instructed to commence internal disciplinary actions against these officials within a span of ten days.


An Air India representative confirmed that the directives have been put into effect, as reported by another news source.


The spokesperson indicated that the chief operations officer will now directly supervise the Integrated Operations Control Centre, which is responsible for managing flight operations, crew schedules, and ensuring adherence to safety regulations.


“Air India is dedicated to maintaining strict compliance with safety protocols and standard practices,” the spokesperson stated.


As per the news report, these alleged violations were uncovered during a review that followed the airline's transition to a new crew scheduling system implemented in May of the previous year.



Among those under scrutiny is Choorah Singh, the divisional vice president of the Integrated Operations Control Centre, which oversees flight operations, crew scheduling, and compliance with safety standards.


The other officials involved are Pinky Mittal, the chief manager in the Directorate of Operations, and Payal Arora, who also plays a role in crew rostering, as reported by another media outlet.


This directive follows a recent incident where an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, traveling from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick airport, crashed just 33 seconds after takeoff on June 12. This incident is being regarded as one of the worst aviation disasters in a decade.


There were 242 individuals on board the aircraft, with one passenger surviving with impact injuries.


Additionally, thirty-four people lost their lives on the ground when the plane struck a hostel building associated with BJ Medical College and Hospital in Ahmedabad, according to Air India.


On Wednesday, the airline announced a 15% reduction in its international services utilizing widebody aircraft for the upcoming weeks to stabilize operations.


This decision was made in light of service disruptions following the crash.


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