Subhechcha Ganguly 
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a strong enforcement order to Air India, warning that any future breach of crew scheduling norms, licensing rules, or flight time limitations could result in strict punitive action—including suspension or withdrawal of the airline’s operating license.
This warning follows the DGCA’s directive for the immediate removal of three senior staff members from critical operational roles due to “repeated and serious violations” in pilot duty scheduling and regulatory oversight. The officials removed include Choorah Singh (Divisional Vice President, Integrated Operations Control Centre), Pinky Mittal (Chief Manager-DOPS, Crew Scheduling), and Payal Arora (Crew Scheduling-Planning).
Citing “systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability,” the DGCA’s June 20 order emphasized a concerning lack of disciplinary action against key individuals responsible for the lapses. “Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses. These officials have been involved in serious and repeated lapses,” the regulator stated.
The regulatory body’s warning comes amid heightened scrutiny of Air India, particularly after the June 12 crash of a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner that killed 241 passengers and at least 30 people on the ground shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. While the DGCA has not explicitly linked its latest enforcement measures to the tragedy, internal documents suggest intensified regulatory oversight of the airline.
Responding to the directive, Air India confirmed it has complied with the DGCA’s instructions and removed the named officials from their roles. “In the interim, the company’s Chief Operations Officer will provide direct oversight to the IOCC,” the airline stated. “Air India is committed to ensuring total adherence to safety protocols and standard operating procedures.”
As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues its probe into the crash, the DGCA has made it clear that any further lapses will trigger severe consequences for the airli
