India’s aviation regulator has warned Air India of possible enforcement action after repeated safety violations related to crew fatigue management and training.
The warning follows a fatal crash involving one of the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Ahmedabad last month that killed 260 people.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued four notices on July 23, pointing to 29 violations. These include pilots not receiving mandatory rest, poor adherence to simulator training rules, inadequate training for high-altitude airports, and international flights operating with insufficient cabin crew.
The notices were addressed to top airline officials, including the directors of flight operations and training.
One notice mentioned pilots breaching weekly rest rules in both June 2024 and June 2025. Another cited two pilots who failed to begin flying within the required period after simulator training in 2023.
In April, a pilot operated a flight from Kathmandu without special training needed for the airport, which sits in mountainous terrain.
Air India disclosed the violations to the regulator last month, calling them voluntary disclosures. The airline said it would respond to the notices and remains committed to safety.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is also investigating Air India Express after reports the carrier delayed changing engine parts. In May, Indian regulators found Air India flew three Airbus aircraft with overdue emergency equipment checks.
In parliament this week, the Indian government said Air India received nine safety warnings in the past six months. In 2023, 23 such warnings or fines were issued to airlines, with 11 involving Air India.
A government official said regulators are concerned Air India is not taking the warnings seriously.
