Air India Audit Reveals Shocking Safety Failures

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently audited Air India’s base in Gurugram from July 1–4, uncovering nearly 100 operational violations—including seven classified as Level‑1, the most severe category that demands immediate action. These violations included lapses in crew training, use of unapproved simulators, non‑compliance with crew rest limits, insufficient cabin crew, and unqualified staff at certain airports.

This audit follows the tragic crash of Flight AI171 on June 12, which resulted in 260 fatalities. According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, both engines lost fuel ingestion seconds after takeoff due to fuel switches being turned to cutoff manually—caught on the cockpit voice recorder with pilots questioning each other.

In response, DGCA issued four show‑cause notices and removed three senior officials responsible for crew scheduling. This action came shortly after Air India acknowledged internal reviews revealing systemic scheduling and training issues.

With the DGCA requiring Air India to resolve Level‑1 violations by July 30 and the remaining issues by August 23, the airline faces intense scrutiny. Critics argue these findings illuminate deeper systemic flaws, underscoring that safety must be proactive and not reactive.