Air India is facing serious trouble after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation flagged the airline for multiple violations related to pilot fatigue and crew training. The warning comes in the wake of a devastating crash involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives. Just days after the crash, the airline voluntarily reported a series of safety issues to the aviation authority, prompting further scrutiny.
According to four official notices issued to Air India on July 23, the DGCA found a pattern of non-compliance across several areas. These include failing to provide pilots with mandatory rest periods, skipping essential simulator training, not preparing crew for high-altitude landings, and operating international flights without the required number of cabin crew. The notices state that these were not one-off mistakes but reflect deeper systemic failures in how the airline handles crew planning and safety protocols.
The notices also mention that despite repeated warnings and previous enforcement actions, Air India has not resolved its internal problems. The regulator suggested that the recurrence of such safety lapses points to a breakdown in basic oversight and training management. If these issues continue, the airline could face serious consequences ranging from heavy fines to possible removal of key executives.
In response, Air India acknowledged that the violations were part of self-reported disclosures over the past year and said it remains committed to passenger and crew safety. The airline has promised to respond to the regulator’s concerns in full.
Meanwhile, the DGCA has not yet issued an official comment on the matter. The Ahmedabad crash, now identified as the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade, has only increased public scrutiny of Air India’s operations. A preliminary investigation revealed alarming cockpit confusion just moments after takeoff, including a miscommunication over the fuel control switches between the two pilots.
This latest warning adds to growing concerns over how India’s national carrier is managing safety in a high-pressure industry. As global air traffic continues to rise, regulators and travelers alike are paying closer attention to airline accountability and operational discipline.
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