NEW DELHI – India’s aviation regulator has identified 51 safety violations at Air India during a July audit, raising serious concerns about the airline’s training standards, equipment usage, and crew management practices, according to a government report reviewed by Reuters.
The audit, conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), uncovered seven “Level I” violations that must be resolved by July 30, and 44 other non-compliances that are to be addressed by August 23. These findings are not linked to the June crash of a Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people, but they come as the airline faces heightened scrutiny following the fatal incident.
Among the key lapses, the audit revealed that some Boeing 787 and 777 pilots had not completed mandatory monitoring duties, part of recurrent training required for periodic evaluations. Air India’s fleet includes 34 Boeing 787s and 23 Boeing 777s. Officials also flagged the airline’s use of unapproved flight simulators for training at Category C airports—airfields that require special operational assessments due to complex terrain or layouts—potentially compromising safety during landings and approaches.
The DGCA report also criticized Air India’s rostering system, noting it failed to alert management when minimum cabin crew requirements were not met. At least four international flights reportedly departed without the necessary number of cabin crew members. A recent flight from Milan to New Delhi operated by a Boeing 787 exceeded the pilot’s duty time limit by two hours and 18 minutes, another Level I violation.
Further issues included incomplete or inconsistent checks of emergency equipment, gaps in training documentation, and the lack of designated chief pilots for the Airbus A320 and A350 fleets. “This results in a lack of accountability and effective monitoring of flight operations for these aircraft types,” the report stated.
The audit, conducted by ten inspectors and four additional auditors, is part of an annual review and is separate from the investigation into the June crash. A preliminary report on that crash indicated confusion in the cockpit when fuel control switches were simultaneously flipped shortly after takeoff, with one pilot questioning the other’s actions.
In response to the DGCA’s findings, Air India stated it was “fully transparent” during the audit and will submit a response with details of corrective actions within the regulator’s stipulated timeframe.
This scrutiny follows additional notices issued on July 23 to senior Air India executives, including the airline’s directors of flight operations and training, citing 29 systemic lapses and ignoring repeated warnings from the DGCA. The airline said it intends to respond to the regulator’s concerns.
Tata Group, which acquired Air India in 2022, has rapidly expanded the airline’s international routes but has struggled with persistent service quality complaints from passengers. Reports of soiled cabins, broken amenities, and non-functional entertainment systems have frequently surfaced on social media.
In 2024, the DGCA issued warnings or penalties for safety violations in 23 cases, 11 of which involved the Air India Group. The most significant fine was US$127,000 for insufficient oxygen supplies on board during certain international flights.