Three Senior Air India Officials Removed as DGCA Cracks Down Over Flight Duty Violations
New Delhi:
In one of its sternest actions in recent months, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered the immediate removal of three senior Air India officials from all responsibilities related to flight crew scheduling and rostering. Among those removed is a divisional vice president, signaling the seriousness of the matter. The directive follows a DGCA audit of Air India’s Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC), which manages crew deployment for both domestic and international flights.
The aviation regulator has also instructed Air India, which is now owned by the Tata Group, to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the three unnamed officials without delay. The DGCA has warned that failure to act could result in severe consequences, including the possible withdrawal of the airline’s operating license.
This decisive step comes after the DGCA discovered serious violations during a routine audit. The violations pertain to two Air India flights — AI133 from Bengaluru to London Heathrow — that operated on May 16 and 17. According to the show cause notice issued to the airline, these flights exceeded the maximum permitted flight duty time limitation of 10 hours, a clear breach of India’s aviation safety norms.
Specifically, the flights were found to be in violation of Para 6.1.3 of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), Section 7, Series J, Part III, Issue III, dated April 24, 2019. These regulations are in place to ensure that pilots and cabin crew do not work beyond safe duty limits, which could compromise flight safety.
The regulator’s strong response highlights its zero-tolerance policy towards safety violations, especially those involving crew fatigue and compliance with duty time regulations. This move also sends a clear message to all airlines operating in India that accountability in operational control is non-negotiable.
Air India has not yet issued a formal public response, but industry observers say the airline is likely to comply with the DGCA’s directives promptly to avoid any disruption to its flight operations.
