Bad news for Air India! DGCA slaps show-cause notice over violations of…; 3 officials removed for…, license to be…
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to Air India’s Accountable Manager for breaching flight time regulations. According to the DGCA, a spot check revealed that two Air India flights—AI133 from Bengaluru to London on 16 and 17 May 2025—exceeded the maximum permitted flight time of 10 hours. This is a violation of Para 6.1.3 of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), Section 7, Series J, Part III, Issue III, dated 24 April 2019.
“During a spot check, it has been observed that the Accountable Manager of M/s Air India operated two flights from Bangalore to London (A|133) on 16 May 2025 and 17 May 2025, both of which exceeded the stipulated flight time limit of 10 hours, in violation of Para 6.1.3 of Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 7 Series J Part III, Issue Ill dated 24 April 2019,” reads the he DGCA Show Notice to Air India.
Air India given 7 days to explain flight time violations, faces potential regulatory action
Air India has been asked to respond within seven days as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against them under the applicable provisions of the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the violations. In its notice, the DGCA stated that the manager did not ensure adherence to specific provisions under the Civil Aviation Requirements, and warned that enforcement action could follow if no response is received.
The letter further reads, “Whereas, it is further noted that the Accountable Manager of Mis Air India Ltd. has failed to ensure adherence to the provisions and compliance requirements as stipulated under Para 1 and Para 2.4 of Annexure III of Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) of Section 3, Series C Part Il. Now, therefore, you are hereby called upon to show cause within 07 days of receipt of this notice as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against you under the applicable provisions of the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the aforementioned violations,” the letter reads.
In addition, the letter indicated that if a reply is not received in the time frame provided, the case may be adjudicated without further responses, based on the evidence that is already available.
DGCA also issued a notice against three Air India officials on the rostering team
Moreover, the DGCA has issued notices to three officials in Air India’s rostering team, instructing the airline to remove them from all duties in crew scheduling and rostering because there have allegedly been repeated violations. The regulator has directed Air India to initiate an internal disciplinary process, and provide the outcome report within 10 days. The officials are to be assigned to non-operational roles with no function or responsibility for safety or compliance matters until further notice. The DGCA warned that any subsequent violations revealed during audits or inspections could lead to severe penalities including license suspension or the withdrawal of the airline’s operating permissions.
“Remove the officials from all crew scheduling and rostering roles. Initiate internal disciplinary proceedings and report outcomes to DGCA within 10 days. Reassign the officials to non-operational roles; no involvement in safety/compliance positions until further notice. Strict enforcement action for future violations post-audit/inspection could include: penalties, License suspension, and withdrawal of operator permissions,” the regulator said in its notice.
Air India responded to the DGCA’s order and said that it has implemented the same. As per the statement of Air India, “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.”
(With ANI Inputs)
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