In the wake of the tragic Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 270 lives, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has taken decisive action by ordering the removal of three senior Air India officials for serious safety violations related to crew scheduling and operational oversight.
⚠️ Crew Scheduling Failures Under Scrutiny
The DGCA’s June 20 directive follows a preliminary investigation that uncovered repeated and unauthorized crew pairings, violations of mandatory licensing and rest norms, and systemic failures in compliance monitoring. The officials removed include:
- Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President
- Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager – Crew Scheduling
- Payal Arora, Crew Scheduling – Planning
These lapses were discovered during a post-transition audit after Air India shifted from the ARMS to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System.
📄 Show-Cause Notice and Disciplinary Action
The DGCA also issued a show-cause notice to Air India’s Accountable Manager for exceeding flight duty time limitations (FDTL) on two Bengaluru–London flights in May 2025. The regulator has demanded a response within seven days and warned of strict enforcement, including license suspension or withdrawal of operator permissions, for future violations.
“The absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials is of particular concern,” the DGCA noted in its order.
🛫 Air India Responds
Air India has acknowledged the directive and confirmed that the officials have been removed from operational roles. The airline’s Chief Operations Officer will now oversee the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC).
“Air India is committed to ensuring total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices,” the airline said in a statement.
🧬 Crash Investigation Ongoing
The June 12 crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick remains under investigation. The DGCA has also sought detailed audit and inspection records from 2024 and 2025 to assess broader compliance issues.
Stay tuned for developments in the crash investigation and aviation safety reforms.
