Aviation Regulator Takes Action against Air India Officials
India's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered the immediate removal of three senior Air India officials from their crew scheduling responsibilities following the discovery of repeated and serious safety violations. The directive, issued on June 20, underscores a significant crackdown on procedural lapses within the airline.
The officials—Choorah Singh, Divisional Vice President; Pinky Mittal, Chief Manager of Crew Scheduling; and Payal Arora of Crew Scheduling-Planning—were found to be linked to multiple compliance failures. According to the DGCA, these lapses included unauthorized crew pairings, breaches of pilot licensing and flight rest regulations, and systemic failures in oversight. These issues were brought to light during a recent audit conducted after the airline transitioned to a new crew management system.
Under the DGCA's order, the three officials must be reassigned to non-operational roles and are barred from holding any position that has a direct influence on flight safety until further notice. Air India has also been instructed to initiate internal disciplinary proceedings against them and submit a report on the outcome to the regulator within ten days.
This decisive action by the DGCA sends a strong message to the industry about the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols. It highlights the regulator's commitment to ensuring that crew management, a cornerstone of aviation safety, is conducted with the utmost rigor and accountability.
