India’s aviation regulator has identified 51 safety violations at Air India over the past year, with seven classified as severe. The findings, part of routine industry-wide audits, emerge as the airline faces intensified scrutiny following a recent fatal crash.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) flagged these issues during its annual review, which assesses compliance with international safety standards. While the audit was unrelated to last month’s Boeing 787 disaster in Ahmedabad, it underscores broader concerns about operational oversight.
Among the most serious violations—classified as Level 1—were failures that “seriously endanger safety,” potentially warranting regulatory sanctions. Another 44 findings fell under Level 2, indicating risks that could compromise safety if unaddressed. Air India stated it would respond to the findings promptly and implement corrective measures.
The audit also examined other carriers, revealing notable lapses at Alliance Air (57), Ghodawat Star (41), and IndiGo (23). Under global aviation guidelines, Level 1 breaches can trigger penalties ranging from operational restrictions to license revocation, while Level 2 issues require corrective plans within three months.
Though specifics of Air India’s violations remain undisclosed, reports cite concerns over pilot training gaps, unauthorized simulator use, and flawed crew scheduling. The DGCA emphasized that larger airlines typically log more findings due to their scale of operations, noting that India’s safety record remains stronger than the global average.
The revelations follow earlier reprimands against Air India’s budget subsidiary for delaying engine part replacements and falsifying maintenance records. Regulatory chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai acknowledged the lapses but highlighted improved self-reporting as a positive step toward transparency.
India has seen three major aviation disasters in 15 years, including two involving Air India flights. Despite recent incidents, officials maintain that the country’s skies remain safe, citing a decline in accident rates compared to international benchmarks.
As investigations into the Ahmedabad crash continue, the audit’s findings spotlight the ongoing challenges in maintaining safety standards across India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
