NEW DELHI: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will begin a three-day audit of Air India’s operations starting Tuesday, just days after a fatal plane crash claimed 271 lives.
While the annual regulatory audit is a scheduled activity and not directly linked to the June 12 crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, it comes amid intensifying scrutiny of the airline’s compliance and operational standards.
According to a government memo reviewed by Reuters, a 10-member DGCA team, including flight operations inspectors and cabin safety specialists, will inspect operational records, review past audit findings, and evaluate action-taken reports. The audit is scheduled to take place at Air India’s headquarters from June 24 to 26, and mandates the presence of senior airline executives.
⚠️ Compliance Lapses Under the Scanner
This audit follows multiple recent compliance warnings issued to the airline. Over the weekend, the DGCA flagged “repeated and serious violations” related to pilot duty scheduling and ordered the removal of three executives from crew management roles. Air India confirmed that it has complied with the directive.
The watchdog also previously warned the carrier for allowing three Airbus aircraft to operate despite being overdue for mandatory emergency equipment checks, specifically involving escape slides.
🛬 Crash Triggers Operational Overhaul
Air India has temporarily reduced its flight network, including a 15% cut in international routes using wide-body aircraft, citing a need to “reinforce operational stability” following the deadly crash. The cause of the June 12 accident, which has become India’s worst aviation disaster in a decade, remains under investigation.
🛫 Tata Group’s Challenge
Since acquiring Air India in 2022, the Tata Group has been working to restore the airline’s reputation following years of complaints over safety and service quality. However, the recent crash and ensuing regulatory alarms underscore the deep-rooted operational challenges the carrier still faces.
Neither Air India nor the DGCA responded to Reuters’ queries about the upcoming audit.