DGCA Summons Air India Top Brass Amid Crash Inquiry And Multiple Flight Disruptions: Report
India's aviation sector continues to reel from the fallout of the recent Air India disaster as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called for an urgent meeting with top executives from Air India and Air India Express.
The meeting comes as the investigation progresses into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London and claimed the lives of 241 passengers and at least 30 people on ground.
The DGCA scheduled the virtual session for Tuesday, to be led by DG Fazi Ahmed Kidwai, reported The Economic Times. The agenda not only includes discussions on the catastrophic accident but also focuses on recent operational disruptions that have triggered widespread cancellations and delays in international flight schedules.
Senior officials summoned to the meeting include Air India Managing Director and CEO Campbell Wilson, Director of Flight Operations Captain Pankul Mathur, and Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh, along with several other key personnel responsible for flight safety and operational oversight, according to a report by the Times of India.
In a parallel move, a memo seen by Reuters revealed that the DGCA has asked Air India to submit detailed training documentation for the pilots and dispatchers involved in the Ahmedabad-London Dreamliner flight that went down last Thursday. The regulatory body has also issued fresh directives to all flight training schools across India, instructing them to conduct thorough compliance checks with established training protocols and safety measures.
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Flight Cancellations Continue
In the midst of these investigations, Air India has faced additional operational hurdles. A separate incident forced the cancellation of flight AI143, scheduled to depart from Delhi to Paris on June 17. Pre-flight inspections detected an unspecified technical issue, leading to the suspension of the flight. As per an Air India spokesperson quoted by ANI, “Flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris of 17 June has been cancelled. The mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue which is being presently addressed. However, in view of the flight coming under the restrictions on night operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport, the said flight has been cancelled.”
With the outbound flight grounded, the corresponding return service—AI142 from Paris to Delhi—also stood cancelled. In response, Air India assured affected passengers of full refunds, alternative rescheduling options, and hotel accommodations where necessary.
The ongoing investigation and operational disruptions have intensified pressure on Air India’s leadership to address safety and compliance gaps swiftly. The DGCA’s increased vigilance underscored the regulator’s intent to not only identify the causes behind the fatal crash but also ensure that systemic issues in training and maintenance do not pose future risks to passengers or crew.
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