The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently issued a warning to Air India regarding violations of pilot flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms. This action follows a spot check that revealed instances where the airline exceeded the permissible flight time for pilots on Bengaluru-London flights.
Specifically, the DGCA found that two Air India flights, AI133 on May 16 and 17, surpassed the 10-hour pilot flight time limit stipulated under the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR). The regulator had initially sent a show cause notice to Air India on June 20, requesting an explanation for these violations. However, the DGCA deemed Air India's response to the notice as "unsatisfactory in addressing the regulatory lapses and deficiencies noted". The DGCA's communication, dated August 11, also indicated that the airline's Accountable Manager failed to ensure compliance with the rules outlined in the CAR. As a result, the Accountable Manager of Air India Ltd. has been warned and advised to exercise utmost diligence and responsibility in ensuring strict compliance with the applicable civil aviation requirements.
Air India, in its defense, stated that the rostering issue on the two long-haul flights in mid-May arose "due to a different interpretation of a permission that was granted to mitigate the border related airspace closure". An Air India spokesperson clarified that this interpretation was corrected immediately after being conveyed to them and affirmed the airline's commitment to full compliance with the rules.
This recent warning is not an isolated incident. In July 2025, the DGCA issued four show-cause notices to Air India, citing a total of 29 violations related to pilot rest norms, training requirements, and cabin crew deployment. The DGCA characterized these violations as systemic lapses that could potentially compromise flight safety. Instances included pilots exceeding weekly duty hour limits without the mandated rest periods, pilots not commencing active flying within the specified timeframe after simulator training, and pilots operating flights into and out of Kathmandu without the required high-altitude airport simulation training. Furthermore, cabin crew shortages were reported on ultra-long-haul flights to North America.
The DGCA has expressed serious concern about Air India's "systemic issues" in compliance monitoring, crew planning, and training governance. The regulator has also noted a "failure to establish and enforce effective control mechanisms," despite previous warnings and enforcement actions. These repeated violations, according to the DGCA, indicate systemic governance failures that could lead to stricter enforcement, fines, and even leadership restructuring if compliance gaps remain unaddressed.
These issues have gained urgency following the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI 171 near Ahmedabad, which resulted in 260 fatalities. This accident, the deadliest aviation disaster in India in over a decade, has intensified scrutiny of Air India's governance, safety oversight, and crew management practices.
Air India has acknowledged receipt of the notices and has stated that all violations were voluntarily disclosed as part of its internal compliance checks. The airline has affirmed its commitment to passenger and crew safety and is implementing measures to prevent recurrence. The DGCA has given Air India two weeks to submit explanations and corrective plans, with potential penalties, leadership accountability measures, and further regulatory action looming if compliance is not adequately addressed.
