Air India is facing a serious regulatory probe after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged the national carrier for violating crucial aviation safety norms. The issue stems from multiple incidents where Air India allegedly assigned pilots to operate long-haul international flights despite exceeding the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) prescribed under Indian aviation laws. One such case involved a pilot operating the Bengaluru to London flight, who had already surpassed the legally allowed flying hours, raising red flags about crew fatigue and potential safety hazards.
Following these violations, the DGCA launched a detailed audit of Air India’s rostering practices. As an immediate measure, the regulator suspended three scheduling officials responsible for crew management. The watchdog warned that such breaches could compromise both passenger safety and flight operations, emphasizing that fatigue among pilots is a well-documented risk factor in global aviation accidents.
In response, Air India has stated that it is fully cooperating with the DGCA’s investigation and has initiated an internal review of its crew scheduling system. The airline has also promised to adopt stronger compliance protocols and integrate advanced monitoring tools to prevent future lapses.
This probe marks a significant moment for the Tata-owned carrier, which has been under pressure to improve service quality and operational standards post-privatization. The incident has sparked renewed concerns about aviation safety culture in India and has prompted other airlines to reassess their internal crew scheduling mechanisms.
As investigations continue, DGCA has reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement of aviation norms and is expected to release comprehensive findings and possible penalties in the coming weeks.