In the wake of one of India’s most catastrophic aviation tragedies, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered Air India to remove three senior officials responsible for crew scheduling and rostering.
The move comes after the crash of flight AI-171 on June 12 in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 270 fatalities, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, plunged into the BJ Medical College hostel complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people onboard and causing numerous casualties on the ground. Investigations have since uncovered potential violations of flight duty regulations and inadequate crew management.
A DGCA spokesperson confirmed that the airline’s Accountable Manager had operated two long-haul flights on consecutive days—May 16 and 17—exceeding the 10-hour legal flight limit. The aviation regulator has issued a show-cause notice demanding an explanation and has directed internal disciplinary action against all responsible personnel within 10 days.
Sources indicate the dismissed officials directly oversaw crew rotations, critical in maintaining pilot alertness and regulatory compliance. Their removal signals the DGCA’s intent to reinforce aviation safety protocols in light of mounting public scrutiny and national mourning.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Health Minister Rushikesh Patel stated that DNA identification efforts have concluded for most victims. So far, remains of 202 individuals have been returned to families, including nationals from India, the UK, Portugal, and Canada.
