DGCA: India’s aviation safety watchdog issues warning to Air India for breaking flight duty rules
June 21, 2025
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a harsh warning to Air India over repeated and serious lapses in crew rostering.
It also issued a show-cause notice following a spot check that revealed flights breached the flight duty time limitation.
The flights in question are two Bengaluru to London services, operating under flight number AI133, which took place on May 16 and 17, 2025.
Both flights were found to exceed the 10-hour Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) set out in CAR Section 7, Series J Part III.
Air India now has seven days to explain why further enforcement action should not be taken.
Air India staff removed by DGCA
Within the order, the DGCA also demanded the removal of three senior crew scheduling officials.
Breaking : @DGCAIndia issues note against Air India rostering team and orders their removal for repeated violations @BDUTT @ShivAroor @VishnuNDTV @Iyervval @kushal_mehra #aviation #avgeeks @ari_maj @jagritichandra @27saurabhsinha @aneeshp
— Sanjay Lazar (@sjlazars) June 21, 2025
Very strong comments by DGCA
M/s… pic.twitter.com/DYMlXO5S4t
A divisional vice president, chief manager of crew scheduling and a crew planning executive must be immediately removed from crew rostering duties. The watchdog has asked the airline to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against these individuals without delay.
The DGCA says they were linked to ‘repeated and serious violations’ of regulations relating to rostering. This included improper crew pairings, lapses in licensing or recency, and systemic failures in oversight.
Some of these issues were voluntarily reported by Air India, saying they were discovered after the airline shifted from the ARMS crew management system to a CAE Flight and Crew Management System last year.
Air India responds to DGCA allegations
Air India has issued a statement saying it has implemented the DGCA 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 that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.”
The DGCA warned the airline that any further non-compliance or breaches of crew scheduling regulations could result in penalties, license suspension or even the revocation of Air India’s operating permissions.
Air India is under close scrutiny following the tragic 12 June crash of a Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad, which killed 241 onboard and dozens on the ground.
In March 2024, Air India was fined Rs 80 lakhs ($92,000) by the DGCA for violations of pilot rest period rules.
