India’s aviation safety watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has flagged 51 safety violations at Air India over the past year, with seven of them categorised as the most serious, according to the regulator’s recently completed annual audit. The audit, part of the DGCA’s regular surveillance of all commercial airlines operating in the country, revealed a total of 263 safety-related issues across eight carriers.
While the violations at Air India are not linked to the fatal Boeing 787 crash last month that claimed 260 lives, they have nonetheless intensified public and regulatory scrutiny of the airline’s safety practices. The audit covered operational procedures, pilot training, simulator usage, and rostering practices.
Among the 51 issues identified at Air India, seven were marked as Level 1 findings, the most critical category defined by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Level 1 findings indicate safety lapses that either reduce operational safety or pose serious threats. These could potentially lead to punitive action including suspension or revocation of the airline’s operational approvals. The remaining 44 issues were Level 2 violations — non-compliances that may not pose an immediate danger but have the potential to compromise safety.
Though the DGCA has not publicly disclosed the specifics of Air India’s Level 1 violations, a government report cited by Reuters noted recurring training lapses involving Boeing 787 and 777 pilots, instances of using unapproved simulators, and poor crew rostering. Several pilots reportedly missed mandatory monitoring sessions, raising concerns about the airline’s compliance with essential operational protocols.
In response, an Air India spokesperson said the airline had fully cooperated with the DGCA during its July audit. “We acknowledge receipt of the findings and will submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions taken,” the spokesperson said. The airline also stressed that regular audits are part of ongoing efforts to improve safety systems and processes.
The DGCA, in a separate statement, reiterated that such audits are conducted annually under its ‘Annual Surveillance Plan’ to proactively identify safety gaps and drive continuous improvements. Citing ICAO standards and global practices, the regulator clarified that a higher number of findings in airlines with large fleets is not unusual. “It reflects the complexity and scale of their operations rather than indicating systemic failure,” the DGCA said.
Other airlines identified in the audit include Alliance Air with 57 safety issues, Ghodawat Star with 41, Quick Jet with 35, IndiGo with 23, and SpiceJet with 14. Airlines are typically given up to three months to implement corrective actions, though extensions may be granted depending on the adequacy of their response plans.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Air India’s low-cost arm, Air India Express, was reprimanded for delaying mandatory engine component replacements and falsifying maintenance records for an Airbus A320. The airline admitted the lapse and claimed remedial measures had been undertaken. DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai confirmed that the issue was self-reported, adding that such disclosures are part of a growing safety culture. “We have mandated our teams to be more vigilant in spotting and reporting lapses,” he said.
Despite recent incidents, Kidwai asserted that Indian skies remain safe. He cited ICAO data showing that India has generally maintained better-than-global-average accident rates, with only two exceptions between 2010 and 2024. Those exceptions include the 2020 crash of Air India Express Flight 1344 in Kozhikode that killed 21 people, and the 2010 Mangalore crash that left 158 dead.
Ministry data shows that since 2020, domestic carriers have reported 2,461 technical faults, with IndiGo accounting for more than half, followed by SpiceJet and Air India (including Air India Express). “A rise in snag reporting is a positive sign,” Kidwai said. “It’s far better for every technical issue to be flagged than hidden. Transparency leads to safety.”
