DGCA Warns Air India: License Suspension Looms After 5+ Repeated Safety Violations
DGCA said that any future violation of crew scheduling norms, licensing, or flight time limitations, will attract “strict enforcement action
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has warned that it may suspend or withdraw Air India’s license after ordering the airline to remove three staffers from crucial operational roles over “repeated and serious violations” related to pilot duty scheduling and oversight.
As reported by Hindustan Times earlier, DGCA ordered an immediate removal of Choorah Singh, divisional vice president of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC); Pinky Mittal, chief manager-DOPS, crew scheduling; and Payal Arora, crew scheduling-planning from all roles related to crew scheduling and rostering.
The regulatory body cited “systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability” for its swift action.
In its June 20 enforcement order, the DGCA highlighted “systemic errors”, saying, “Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses. These officials have been involved in serious and repeated lapses.”
The regulator issued stern warning 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.”
Air India has come under growing scrutiny after the June 12 crash of its London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and at least 30 on the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the crash.
While the DGCA did not directly link its latest enforcement action to the crash, documents seen by HT suggest that the regulator is stepping up scrutiny of the airline.
Air India said it has complied with the DGCA directive and removed the three officials named in the order
“In the interim, the company’s chief operations officer will provide direct oversight to the IOCC,” the airline said in a statement. “Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.”
On June 21, 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a rare and stern warning to Air India, threatening license suspension if it fails to rectify persistent breaches of aviation safety norms. Key senior officials — including the Divisional VP, Chief Manager of Crew Scheduling, and the Head of Crew Rostering — have been immediately removed amid reports of multiple violations in recent weeks
Pilot Duty-Time Overruns: Flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 & 17 exceeded the legal 10-hour flight-time limit for pilots
Overdue Emergency Equipment-Checks: Three Airbus planes flew international routes (e.g., to Dubai, Riyadh) with inspections of critical escape slides overdue by up to three months
Inadequate Rest & Fatigue Management: Audits revealed systemic scheduling failures and a lack of disciplinary measures for crew fatigue violations
Passenger Discomfort & Flight Cancellations: At least seven flights were abruptly canceled from Bengaluru, stranding hundreds and disrupting travel plans — prompting internal DGCA directives for senior staff removal .
The DGCA’s action is rooted in Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) that govern:
- Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), addressing crew fatigue and in-flight rest.
- Airworthiness mandates, ensuring emergency gear is inspected and maintained.
- Passenger rights, especially handling flight delays, cancellations, and in-flight comfort.
Since its privatization under Tata Group (2022), Air India has embarked on extensive modernization. But this blitz of regulatory action—including the latest threat of license suspension—poses a significant blow to efforts aimed at rebuilding customer trust
DGCA is signaling a diminishing tolerance for recurrent non-compliance:
- Immediate removal of top scheduling officials.
- Show-cause notices and license suspensions for individual pilots in serious lapses.
- Heavy fines: ₹80 lakh for duty-time violations (March 2024), penalties on escape slide lapses, and earlier ₹30 lakh for cockpit ad-hoc entries
| Date | Violation / Incident | DGCA Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Crew fatigue violations: pilots over 60 flying together, inadequate rest & duty periods | ₹80 lakh fine after show-cause; audit reveals overlapping duties. Inaction led to formal penalty. | |
| May 2024 | Inordinate flight delays with inadequate cabin cooling (AI‑179/183 to SF) | Show-cause notices issued; demanded explanation within 3 days . |
| February–June 2023 | Cockpit breaches: female non-crew entry flights (Chandigarh–Leh; Delhi–Dubai) | Pilots’ licenses suspended (3 mo–1 yr), ₹30 lakh fine imposed . |
| December 2024 | Taxiway takeoff attempt at Goa (AI 2592) | DGCA launched probe into serious safety breach . |
| May 2025 | Escape slide checks overdue up to 3 months; Airbus jets flew internationally | DGCA warned airline; certificates “deemed suspended” . |
| June 2025 | Flights exceeded duty-time limits; 7 sudden flight cancellations | DGCA removed 3 senior officials, issued final warning . |
- Compliance Measures: Airline stated it is fully “complying with DGCA directives” and that its COO has taken direct control of crew scheduling
- Internal Discipline: Prompt internal probe announced; senior staff removed while replacements are being appointed
- Process Overhaul: Emphasis on strengthening scheduling controls, maintenance oversight, and crew fatigue policies.
Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence suggests that passenger discomfort (e.g., excessive delays, cabin heat, cancellations) continues to degrade customer satisfaction—indicating deeper cultural and procedural gaps
FDTL audits (January 2024) led to ₹80 lakh fine.
Spot checks revealed emergency equipment lapses in Airbus A319/A320 fleet
Executives and pilots fined or suspended for compliance failures (cockpit cockpit breach, fatigue, scheduling).
Licences suspended up to 1 year for major breaches
DGCA issues public statements and notices, attaching responsibility up the chain — airline CEOs, scheduling heads, planning executives.
Where corrective responses are lacking, DGCA reverses airworthiness certificates, blocking aircraft until compliance is assured
DGCA’s warnings serve as the last formal notice before invoking the ultimate enforcement tool: suspension or revocation of an airline’s Certificate of Airworthiness or operator license. Industry peers rarely witness such drastic threats — Air India is facing Section 6(1) enforcement for sustained non-compliance
Operational Disruption: Senior staff removal and procedural overhauls may impair flight schedules, especially amid summer travel peaks.
Financial Penalties: Repeated fines (₹80 lakh, ₹30 lakh, etc.) may escalate; a license suspension would shutter revenue streams entirely.
Brand Erosion: Persistent safety alerts, delays, and cancellations risk reversing Tata Group’s turnaround efforts. Public trust must be urgently rebuilt
Investor & Market Confidence: Tata Air India pivoted with large aircraft orders and tech upgrades—regulatory backlash threatens to derail reputational and financial momentum.
Competitive Advantage for Rivals: Consumers and corporates may divert traffic to Vistara, IndiGo, or Emirates if Air India’s operations remain unstable.
Appoint qualified replacements for removed officials within crew scheduling.
Institute transparent disciplinary policies for operational breaches.
Third-party aviation consultants to review FDTL, emergency gear maintenance, crew rostering.
Embed audit trails and real-time monitoring protocols.
Re-train crew and planners on fatigue, safety regulations, passenger duty-of-care.
Refresh sterile-cockpit norms; counsel pilots and planners on compliance routes.
Resolve backlog of flight cancellations and delays.
Publish transparent reports and compensation plans to rebuild traveler trust
Regular compliance reporting to DGCA.
Seek early feedback on corrective steps to avoid license jeopardy.
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