DGCA Directs Removal of 3 Air India Officials Over Crew Scheduling Lapses

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday directed Air India to immediately remove three officials, including a senior flight operations executive, over what it described as “systemic failure in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring and internal accountability,” according to multiple sources.

According to reports, the aviation regulator has instructed that the officials be stripped of all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling and rostering. The directorate ordered that internal disciplinary proceedings must be initiated against these officials without delay. Additionally, DGCA has mandated that the outcome of these proceedings must be reported back to the regulator within 10 days.

Confirming the directive, an Air India spokesperson said, “We acknowledge the regulator’s directive and have implemented the order. In the interim, the company's Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices.”

The move follows DGCA’s increasing scrutiny of airlines’ internal operations following recent lapses related to flight crew fatigue management and scheduling irregularities.

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