NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has warned Air India for misusing exemptions granted under special circumstances for pilot flight duty rules.
After Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers on April 24, 2025, the regulator allowed Air India temporary relief from flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms to operate affected West-bound flights. However, DGCA officials said the airline used this exemption to reduce cockpit crew on an unaffected Bengaluru–London route — from three pilots to two — on May 16 and 17, forcing them to fly longer than the 10-hour FDTL limit in place at the time.
The exemption ended on June 12, the day Air India flight AI 171 crashed. Nine days later, DGCA issued a show-cause notice to the airline. On August 11, the regulator said Air India’s response was “unsatisfactory” and that CEO Campbell Wilson, as accountable manager, had “failed to ensure compliance” with civil aviation requirements.
In its warning letter, DGCA advised Wilson to exercise “utmost diligence and responsibility” in ensuring strict adherence to the rules.
An Air India spokesperson said the issue stemmed from a “different interpretation” of the exemption, which was corrected once clarified, and added that the airline “remains fully compliant” with regulations.
