The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation safety regulator in India, has directed Air India to remove three of its officials from their positions due to serious and repeated violations of crew scheduling regulations. The order, issued on June 20, 2025, follows a post-transition review after Air India shifted from the Air Route Management System (ARMS) to the CAE Flight and Crew Management System. This review revealed that flight crew were being scheduled and operated despite lapses in licensing, rest, and recency requirements, which are critical for flight safety.

The DGCA's action comes after Air India voluntarily disclosed these violations. Despite the voluntary disclosure, the regulator expressed concern over the lack of strict disciplinary measures against the key officials responsible for these operational lapses. The DGCA has identified three officials as directly accountable: Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President; Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager - DOPS, Crew Scheduling; and Payal Arora, Crew Scheduling – Planning.

The identified violations include unauthorized and non-compliant crew pairings, violations of mandatory licensing and recency norms, and systemic failures in scheduling protocols and oversight. The DGCA has directed Air India to immediately remove these officials from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering and reassign them to non-operational roles. Furthermore, the airline has been ordered to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against the trio and submit a report on the outcome within 10 days. The officials are barred from holding positions influencing flight safety or crew compliance until further notice.

Air India has acknowledged the DGCA's directive and stated that it has implemented the order. The airline's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) in the interim. Air India has also affirmed its commitment to ensuring total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.

In addition to ordering the removal of the three officials, the DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to Air India for violating flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots on two Bangalore-London flights on May 16 and 17. The regulator has asked Air India to explain within seven days why action should not be taken for these violations.

The DGCA has warned that any future violations detected during audits or inspections could lead to severe penalties, including license suspensions or withdrawal of operator permissions. This stern action from the DGCA underscores the importance of adhering to crew scheduling and safety regulations in the aviation industry. The recent scrutiny and the regulator's firm stance highlight a commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and compliance within Air India and the broader aviation sector.