Air India Plane Crash: India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has flagged nearly 100 safety lapses at Air India following a comprehensive audit of the airline’s operations. The findings come in the wake of the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171, which killed 260 people.
Out of the 51 major audit findings, seven have been categorised as Level-1 violations — the most serious classification under DGCA protocols, seeking immediate rectification. These lapses were uncovered during an inspection at Air India’s operational hub in Gurugram between July 1 and 4.
A senior airline official, speaking off the record, confirmed that “action has already been initiated” in response to the flagged issues.
- The DGCA’s audit exposed deficiencies across several key operational areas:
- Inadequate crew training and use of unapproved flight simulators
- Breaches of cabin crew rest and duty period regulations
- Flights operating with insufficient crew complement
- Faulty pilot rostering and scheduling practices
- Inadequate qualification checks for Category C (high-risk) airports
- Overdue inspections of critical emergency equipment, including aircraft evacuation slides
In addition to these lapses, the DGCA also discovered discrepancies in flight scheduling procedures and route assessments.
The regulator issued four show-cause notices to Air India in late July, largely based on the airline’s own voluntary disclosures, focusing on failures in crew rest compliance, training norms, and scheduling irregularities.
Air India responds, promises action
In response to the audit, Air India issued a statement acknowledging receipt of the DGCA’s findings and reiterated its commitment to safety and regulatory compliance. “All airlines undergo regular audits to test and continuously strengthen processes. Air India’s annual DGCA audit took place in July, during which it was fully transparent with auditors in the spirit of such continuous improvement,” the airline said. “We acknowledge receipt of the findings and will submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions taken.”
What has DGCA told Air India?
Air India has been ordered to address the seven most serious violations by 30 July, while the remaining 44 findings must be resolved by 23 August. The DGCA has also directed the airline to provide formal proof of compliance for each corrective measure undertaken.
The audit follows intense scrutiny after the crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London from Ahmedabad. The aircraft lost thrust moments after takeoff and crashed into a nearby hostel building, killing 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground.
A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found both engines’ fuel switches had been inexplicably shifted from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ seconds after takeoff. Cockpit recordings revealed apparent confusion between the pilots over the incident, prompting questions over crew competence and procedural adherence.
Earlier in June, the DGCA had ordered the removal of three senior officials responsible for crew rostering following internal investigations.