Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 21: Air India has come under intense regulatory and public scrutiny after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered the immediate removal of three senior officials from the airline’s crew rostering department. The directive follows a damning assessment by the aviation regulator, which cited systemic failures and repeated violations of safety and scheduling protocols.

In a strongly worded order, the DGCA held the three officials directly accountable for a series of serious lapses, including unauthorized crew pairings, violations of mandatory licensing norms, and neglect of flight crew recency requirements. Describing the lapses as evidence of a “systemic failure,” the DGCA has demanded that internal disciplinary action be initiated against the officials within ten days.

Air India responded on Saturday, confirming it has acknowledged and implemented the DGCA’s directive. A company spokesperson added that, for now, Chief Operations Officer will assume direct oversight of the Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC) to prevent further procedural failures.

“Air India is committed to ensuring full compliance with all safety regulations and operational standards,” the airline said in a statement.

This regulatory action comes at a time when Air India is already facing national outrage over the recent crash of AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which claimed the lives of at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The incident has renewed concerns over operational accountability within the airline.

Adding to the turmoil, the Aviation Industry Employees’ Guild (AIEG) has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the airline’s recent dismissal of two cabin crew members. According to AIEG General Secretary George Abraham, the employees were allegedly pressured by the airline to alter their statements after reporting a technical fault on the same Dreamliner aircraft last year.

“This isn’t just about wrongful termination,” Abraham told reporters. “It’s about silencing whistleblowers and potentially compromising passenger safety. We demand a thorough CBI investigation into what appears to be a cover-up.”

As calls grow louder for accountability at the highest levels, Air India finds itself navigating both a regulatory storm and a credibility crisis—one that could reshape how safety and transparency are handled in India's civil aviation sector.