India’s civil aviation regulator has flagged 51 safety-related violations at Air India over the past year, according to the findings of its latest annual audit.
The report adds to the scrutiny faced by the national carrier, although the lapses are not directly connected to last month’s fatal Boeing 787 crash that claimed 260 lives.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) classified seven of the Air India findings as Level 1—the most serious category indicating safety deficiencies that could “seriously endanger” operations, as defined by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The regulator has not disclosed details of these highest-level breaches.
Air India, now part of the Tata Group, said it cooperated fully with the audit process. “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,” a spokesperson said. The airline described the audit as part of a routine oversight mechanism applied to all Indian carriers.
The DGCA uncovered a total of 263 safety issues across eight commercial airlines. In addition to Air India’s 51 findings—which included 44 Level 2 and seven Level 1 issues—the audit cited Alliance Air (57 findings), Ghodawat Star (41), Quick Jet (35), IndiGo (23), and SpiceJet (14) among others.
Level 1 findings can prompt immediate regulatory action, including suspension or revocation of an airline’s approvals. Level 2 issues are less severe but still involve lapses that could compromise safety. Airlines are typically granted up to three months to rectify issues, although extensions may be approved if a regulator accepts the proposed action plan.
While the DGCA did not specify the precise nature of Air India’s safety lapses, a government report seen by Reuters pointed to pilot training gaps, the use of unapproved simulators, and irregular crew rostering. In particular, the report highlighted missed mandatory monitoring duties for some Boeing 787 and 777 pilots.
The airline continues to face increased scrutiny following the deadly crash last month—India’s worst aviation disaster in more than a decade.
