The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Tata Group-owned Air India ₹30 lakh for a serious safety lapse involving an unqualified pilot operating a flight. The penalty stems from a regulatory investigation that uncovered violations of mandatory flight operation requirements.

Safety Breach Identified

According to the DGCA’s findings, a first officer piloted a flight on July 7, 2024, despite failing to meet the necessary takeoff and landing requirements for operational currency. This incident raised significant concerns about Air India’s rostering system, which should have flagged the non-compliance before the flight was conducted.

Air India’s internal review on July 12, 2024, acknowledged that its rostering team ignored multiple system alerts highlighting the issue. The DGCA subsequently issued a show cause notice on December 13, 2024, to the airline’s heads of operations and rostering. After an unsatisfactory response, the regulator proceeded with the financial penalty.

Regulatory Action and Compliance Mandate

In addition to the fine, the DGCA has directed Air India to take disciplinary action against three senior officials in the rostering department. The airline is required to submit a compliance report detailing the actions taken within 15 days of the order.

Air India must also pay the penalty within 30 days, making this one of the highest fines imposed on the airline for operational safety failures.

Recurring Safety Violations and Past Fines

This is not the first time Air India has faced regulatory penalties. The DGCA has imposed multiple fines on the airline over the past two years for various safety violations:

• August 2024: ₹90 lakh fine for operating a Mumbai-Riyadh flight with an unqualified first officer.
• March 2024: ₹80 lakh penalty for failing to comply with Flight Duty Time Limit regulations, affecting pilot rest schedules.
• February 2024: ₹30 lakh fine for failing to provide a wheelchair service, which led to a passenger’s fatal cardiac arrest.
• January 2024: ₹30 lakh fine for inadequate pilot training in low-visibility conditions, leading to multiple flight disruptions.
• May 2023: ₹30 lakh penalty for allowing unauthorized cockpit access on a Chandigarh-Leh flight.
• January 2023: ₹30 lakh fine for mishandling a passenger misconduct incident.

Stricter Oversight in Indian Aviation

The latest penalty underscores the DGCA’s firm stance on maintaining aviation safety standards in India. The regulatory body has been consistently tightening oversight, particularly in areas of crew certification, pilot training, and flight operations.

Air India has yet to issue a public statement regarding the fine. However, with multiple penalties in recent years, the airline faces increasing scrutiny over its operational practices. The DGCA’s ongoing monitoring indicates that further non-compliance could lead to stricter enforcement actions in the future.

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