The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to remove three senior officials from its crew rostering department without delay, citing serious violations in scheduling procedures. The airline confirmed on Saturday that it has acknowledged and acted upon the directive.
According to the DGCA, the three officials have been stripped of all responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. The regulator held them directly accountable for multiple breaches, including unauthorised crew pairings, failure to comply with licensing mandates, and non-adherence to flight crew recency norms.
Describing the situation as a “systemic failure” in both the rostering process and oversight mechanisms, the DGCA has instructed Air India to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the trio within 10 days.
Air India, in its official response, stated that the company has complied with the DGCA’s instructions and that its Chief Operations Officer will now directly oversee the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) as an interim measure.
“Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices,” said an airline spokesperson.
This regulatory action comes at a time when Air India is under heightened scrutiny following the catastrophic crash of flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which resulted in the deaths of at least 270 individuals, including 241 passengers and crew.
Meanwhile, the Aviation Industry Employees’ Guild (AIEG) has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the termination of two cabin crew members. The union alleges that the airline dismissed the employees after they reported a technical issue with the same Dreamliner aircraft last year. AIEG General Secretary George Abraham told IANS that the crew had faced pressure from the airline to alter their statements, and that the matter demands a serious investigation.
The confluence of regulatory violations, internal disciplinary concerns, and the aftermath of the AI 171 crash has brought Air India’s safety and accountability standards into sharp focus.
