New Delhi: In a decisive move following one of India’s worst aviation disasters, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered Air India to terminate three senior officials over serious safety violations in crew scheduling and rostering.
The officials — Choorah Singh (Divisional Vice President), Pinky Mittal (Chief Manager, Crew Scheduling), and Payal Arora (Planning, Crew Scheduling) — were found responsible for repeated violations of mandatory licensing, rest periods, and recency norms for flight crews, as disclosed by the Tata Group-owned airline.
DGCA has also directed Air India to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the trio and submit a report within 10 days.
The action comes days after a London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff near Ahmedabad Airport, killing 279 people, including on-ground casualties. Only one passenger — seated in 11A — survived the devastating crash.
In response, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced extended surveillance of all Boeing 787 aircraft in India. “We already have strict safety norms, but after this incident, the DGCA has ordered an urgent inspection of all 34 Boeing 787 planes in the country — 8 have been checked so far,” he said.
The unprecedented action by DGCA reflects a broader push for accountability and enhanced safety oversight in Indian aviation.
