Air India under intense scrutiny as aviation watchdog starts three-day audit

India's aviation safety watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), commenced its annual audit of Air India's headquarters in Gurugram on Tuesday, June 24. A team of ten DGCA officials, including flight operation inspectors, will conduct a thorough review of documents related to the airline's operations, previous audit findings, and action-taken reports. This audit, scheduled to last until June 26, is part of the DGCA's routine annual surveillance and regulatory process, requiring the mandatory presence of top Air India executives.

The audit's timing is notable as it closely follows the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed 271 people. While the DGCA clarified that the audit is unrelated to the specific accident, it comes amidst intense scrutiny on the airline's safety compliance. Air India has recently received multiple warning notices from the DGCA for various compliance lapses, including "repeated and serious violations" related to pilot duty scheduling, leading to the removal of three executives from crew scheduling roles.

Furthermore, the airline was also warned last week for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes reportedly flew despite being overdue for checks on emergency escape slides. In response to the heightened scrutiny and operational needs post-crash, Air India has also announced a reduction in some of its routes, citing a need for "operational stability."

The current audit, led by Deputy Chief Flight Operations Inspector Adhiraj Yadav, includes officials focused on flight operations and cabin safety norms. Air India, acquired by the Tata Group in 2022, is under pressure to rebuild its image and address long-standing criticisms regarding its service and safety standards. The cause of the June 12 Ahmedabad crash remains under investigation by authorities.