Air India is under increased scrutiny from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following a recent audit that revealed a significant number of safety violations. The audit, conducted in early July, identified approximately 51 lapses in Air India's safety protocols, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the airline's ongoing revamp under the Tata Group. These findings have intensified regulatory scrutiny amid India's growing aviation sector.

The DGCA's audit, which is part of routine checks and aligns with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and global best practices, uncovered a total of 263 safety-related lapses across eight Indian airlines. While Air India's 51 violations are notable, the DGCA has stated that a higher number of findings is typical for airlines with larger fleets. In comparison, IndiGo, India's largest airline, reported 23 issues, while SpiceJet, which has faced regulatory actions in the past, recorded 14 findings. Vistara, now merged with Air India, had 17, and Air India Express, Air India's budget carrier, had 25. Akasa Air is yet to be audited.

The DGCA categorizes audit findings into two levels: Level 1, which indicates direct safety hazards, and Level 2, which pertains to procedural violations or administrative oversights. Air India's audit included seven Level 1 findings, the highest among Indian carriers, raising serious concerns about potential impacts on flight safety. These critical violations necessitate immediate corrective action. Examples of Level 1 breaches include improper aircraft maintenance, expired parts documentation, and serious deficiencies in crew training. Other violations observed during the audit of Air India included issues related to training protocols, crew rest periods, duty norms, insufficient crew complement, and airfield qualifications. Some specific concerns included the use of unapproved simulators and inadequate route assessments for challenging airports. One specific instance cited was an Air India Boeing 787 flight from Milan to New Delhi that exceeded flight duty time limitations by over two hours.

Air India has acknowledged the findings and has been given time to respond to the DGCA with a detailed report of corrective actions taken. The airline has stated its commitment to the safety of its passengers and staff. The DGCA has already issued show cause notices to Air India for various violations related to cabin crew rest and duty norms, cabin crew training rules, and operational procedures.

These audit findings and the resulting scrutiny come at a sensitive time, as Air India is working to revamp its operations under the Tata Group. The airline is also dealing with the aftermath of the fatal Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad last month, although the audit was reportedly unrelated to that specific incident.