• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed the removal of three Air India officials, including a divisional vice president, from all duties related to crew scheduling and rostering due to “lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements.”

ALSO READ: ‘She Was Crying’: Tiffin Seller’s Lunch Delivery Saves 80 Doctors From Deadly Ahmedabad Plane Crash, Loses Mother, Daughter

The regulator has also issued a show-cause notice to the airline for operating two flights, Bangalore to London on May 16 and 17, where pilots were required to fly beyond the permitted 10-hour flight duty time limitation (FDTL) granted to Air India at that time.

On June 20, DGCA also instructed the Tata Group-owned airline to promptly begin internal disciplinary proceedings against the three officials. According to the DGCA order, these officials include a divisional vice president of the airline.

Air India stated that it has acknowledged the regulator’s directive and complied with the order.

"We acknowledge the regulator’s directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," the airline said in its statement on Saturday.

"Repeated and serious violations voluntarily disclosed by Air India concerning flight crew being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements. These violations were discovered during the post-transition review from ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System," The DGCA order said.

ARMS (Air Route Management System) is the software platform used by Air India for various operational and management functions, including crew rostering and flight planning.

The DGCA order noted that the airline’s voluntary disclosures, while acknowledged, reveal systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability. Of particular concern is the lack of strict disciplinary action against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses.

The regulator highlighted that these officials have been involved in serious and repeated violations, including unauthorized and non-compliant crew pairings, breaches of mandatory licensing and recency requirements, and systemic failures in scheduling protocols and oversight.

The DGCA warned Air India that any future violations in crew scheduling will result in stringent penalties, including license suspensions and operational restrictions.

ALSO READ: ‘Will Not Release Aircraft If There's A Doubt’: Air India CEO Vows Strict Measures After Ahmedabad Crash

This latest directive comes amid heightened scrutiny of the airline following the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash last week. On June 12, Air India flight AI-171, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff en route to London. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of all but one on board, as well as nearly 29 people on the ground when the aircraft collided with a medical complex.

(With PTI Inputs)