India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, has issued multiple show cause notices to Air India following voluntary disclosures by the airline itself regarding various operational and safety lapses.
Why Air India is Under Scrutiny
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently issued at least four show cause notices to Air India. These notices stem from the airline’s own voluntary admissions of non-compliance over the past year.
The alleged lapses include inadequate cabin crew deployment, failure to ensure mandatory crew rest periods, and violations in crew training and operational procedures. Air India has been given 14-15 days to respond to these serious allegations.
An Air India spokesperson acknowledged receipt of the notices, stating the airline would respond within the stipulated time. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the safety of both crew and passengers.
A Closer Look at the Lapses
Understaffed Ultra-Long-Haul Flights
One notice highlighted that Air India operated four ultra-long-haul flights in April and May without the required number of cabin crew. Instead of the mandatory 15 crew members, one flight had only 12, while three others had 14 each.
The DGCA explicitly called this a “serious breach of regulatory requirements” that raises concerns about Air India’s safety management and operational oversight.
Breaches in Crew Training and Procedures
Another notice detailed 19 instances of violations in crew training and operational procedures since July 2024. Three of these related to pilots, and 16 to cabin crew.
The regulator noted that despite previous warnings, these violations indicate a “continuing failure to implement effective training governance and compliance monitoring mechanisms,” posing a significant safety risk.
Operating Without Valid Competency Cards
Furthermore, two cabin crew members were found to have operated flights without valid competency cards. In one case, a crew member flew despite having accidentally deployed an emergency slide, which typically requires a re-qualification process before returning to duty.
Recent Safety Concerns at Air India
These latest notices come amidst heightened scrutiny on Air India following other recent regulatory actions and a tragic incident. The airline has been under the DGCA’s scanner, especially after the June 12 crash of its flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad.
That devastating crash resulted in 260 fatalities, including 241 on board and 19 on the ground. A preliminary investigation suggested the aircraft crashed after both engines lost fuel supply due to fuel control switches moving to ‘CUTOFF’ shortly after takeoff.
- The DGCA issued multiple show cause notices to Air India based on the airline’s own voluntary disclosures.
- Lapses include inadequate cabin crew, rest period violations, and training/procedure breaches.
- Four ultra-long-haul flights operated with insufficient cabin crew.
- Nineteen instances of crew training and operational procedure violations were cited.
- The notices follow increased scrutiny on Air India, including a recent fatal crash in Ahmedabad.
Air India is expected to respond to these notices promptly as the aviation regulator evaluates further action to ensure compliance and enhance safety standards.
