The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, has ordered Air India to remove three senior officials responsible for crew rostering.
This directive, dated 20 June, follows the airline’s own disclosure of “repeated and serious violations” related to pilot licensing, mandatory rest, and flight recency requirements.
The action is not directly related to the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, which brought additional scrutiny to Air India’s operations. The cause of the tragic crash that killed over 260 people is still under investigation.
The DGCA said multiple violations were discovered after Air India switched its internal crew scheduling software last year.
“Repeated and serious violations (were) voluntarily disclosed by M/s Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements,” the DGCA said.
“The voluntary disclosures, while noted, point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses.”
In aviation, “recency” refers to the requirement for pilots to have recently performed takeoffs and landings or simulator sessions to maintain valid licenses.
The DGCA ordered Air India to remove the three officials from all crew scheduling roles. The airline must also launch disciplinary action against the officials within 10 days.
One was vice president of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). This is the central hub of an airline’s day-to-day operations that brings together key departments like crew scheduling, maintenance, and network planning to ensure flights run safely and in line with regulations.
In a short statement, Air India said it has followed the regulator’s order. “We acknowledge the regulator’s directive and have implemented the order,” an Air India spokesperson said. “In the interim, the company’s chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the IOCC.”
Air India issued show-cause notice
In a separate matter, the DGCA also issued a show-cause notice to the airline. This was for violating FDTL norms during two Bangalore-London flights on 16 and 27 May.
DGCA said pilots on both flights had exceeded the permissible 10-hour limit set for crew flight time. “The accountable manager has failed to ensure adherence,” the DGCA said.
The DGCA said the airline must explain why action should not be taken for these violations. If Air India fails to reply within seven days, the DGCA could act on the matter without further input.
