Air India faces regulatory heat over crew duty violations and safety lapses

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued four show cause notices to Air India for a series of regulatory violations concerning cabin crew duty limits, training protocols, and operational procedures, according to official sources.

The notices, dated 23 July, follow a set of voluntary disclosures made by the airline to the aviation regulator on 20 and 21 June. These disclosures reportedly detailed several breaches involving ultra-long-haul and domestic flights over the past year.

Three of the notices are said to stem from the airline's 20 June disclosure, citing irregularities in at least four ultra-long-haul services — two flown on 27 April, and one each on 28 April and 2 May — where cabin crew rest and duty time regulations were allegedly not adhered to. Additional violations were identified in the area of crew training and operational protocols on flights operated on 26 July 2024, 9 October 2024, and 22 April 2025.

Another notice flagged breaches related to weekly rest norms and extended duty hours on flights operated on 24 June 2024 and 13 June 2025. The final notice, based on the airline's 21 June submission, raised concerns about three separate instances of procedural and training lapses on flights flown between 10 and 11 April, from 16 February to 19 May, and on 1 December 2024.

In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "We acknowledge receipt of these notices from the regulator related to certain voluntary disclosures that were made over the last one year by Air India. We will respond to the said notices within the stipulated period. We remain committed to the safety of our crew and passengers."

Regulatory scrutiny of Air India has intensified in recent months following a series of safety incidents. Most notably, on 12 June, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by the airline crashed into a residential building shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, killing all 260 people on board, including 19 on the ground.

A preliminary investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that both engines had failed shortly after departure due to a disruption in fuel supply. In response, the DGCA ordered a comprehensive inspection of the fuel control switch locking systems across all Boeing aircraft operated by Indian carriers.

Air India has since confirmed that it completed precautionary inspections on its 787 and 737 fleets, reporting no anomalies. The airline stated that these checks were conducted in full compliance with the DGCA’s latest directives.

Despite earlier regulatory interventions and warnings, the DGCA noted in one of its recent notices that systemic weaknesses in compliance monitoring, crew scheduling, and training governance persist within the airline.

As the investigation into the Ahmedabad crash continues, these new notices have further spotlighted operational oversight issues at one of India’s largest carriers, raising serious questions about internal safety mechanisms and regulatory compliance.