In a significant move that underscores the aviation regulator’s heightened focus on safety and compliance, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered Air India to immediately remove three key officials from their roles related to flight crew scheduling and rostering. The drastic action comes amidst “repeated and serious violations” in pilot duty scheduling and oversight, prompting a stern warning from the DGCA that Air India’s operating license could be suspended or even withdrawn if such lapses continue.
The officials removed from their critical operational duties are Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC); Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager – DOPS, Crew Scheduling; and Payal Arora, from Crew Scheduling – Planning. The DGCA, in its June 20 enforcement order, highlighted “systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability” as the primary reasons for this decisive intervention. Of particular concern to the regulator was the “absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses,” noting that these individuals had been involved in “serious and repeated lapses.”
These violations, which Air India reportedly disclosed voluntarily during a post-transition review after shifting to a new crew management system, include unauthorized and non-compliant crew pairings, as well as breaches of mandatory licensing and recency norms. The DGCA’s order also cited instances of two Air India flights, AI133 from Bengaluru to London Heathrow on May 16 and 17, exceeding the maximum flight duty time limitation of 10 hours.
The DGCA has issued a strong warning to Air India, stating unequivocally that “any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations detected in any post-audit or inspection, will attract strict enforcement action, including but not limited to penalties, license suspension, or withdrawal of operator permissions as applicable.”
In response to the DGCA’s directive, Air India has confirmed its compliance, stating that the three officials have been removed from their designated roles. The airline also announced that its Chief Operations Officer would directly oversee the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) in the interim, emphasizing its commitment to “ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.”
This latest enforcement action by the DGCA comes at a time when Air India is under intensified scrutiny, particularly in the wake of the tragic June 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad. While the DGCA has not directly linked its current action to the crash, industry observers suggest that the regulator is stepping up its oversight of the airline’s operations and safety protocols. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is currently probing the Ahmedabad crash, which resulted in significant casualties.
The DGCA’s move serves as a stark reminder to all airlines of the paramount importance of strict adherence to aviation safety regulations and the severe consequences of repeated non-compliance. The aviation body’s unwavering stance aims to reinforce a culture of safety and accountability across the Indian aviation sector.