Aviation regulator orders Air India to remove officials
New Delhi’s civil aviation regulator has ordered Air India to remove three officials from their roles over “systemic failures”, as the carrier comes under scrutiny after the deadly crash.
New Delhi’s civil aviation regulator has ordered Air India to remove three officials from their roles over “systemic failures”, as the carrier comes under scrutiny after a deadly crash.
The instruction from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) did not detail whether it was linked to the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed all but one of the 242 people on board. At least 38 others on the ground were killed.
The DGCA directive noted that the airline’s voluntary disclosures “point to systemic failures in crew scheduling, compliance monitoring, and internal accountability”.
“Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible for these operational lapses,” said the order, which was issued on Friday.
“These officials have been involved in serious and repeated lapses,” it said.
The regulator has directed Air India to remove three officials named in the order “from all roles and responsibilities related to crew scheduling”, take disciplinary action, and report on steps taken within 10 days.
Future violations could also result in “licence suspension”.
The airline said on Saturday it had implemented the order.
“Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices,” it said in a statement.
Investigators are attempting to find out what caused the airline’s London-bound plane to hurtle to the ground moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
Air India said on Thursday that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane was “well-maintained” and that the pilots were accomplished flyers.
The cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder have been recovered from the crash site.
AIR INDIA CRASH JET ‘LAST MAJOR CHECK IN 2023’
Air India have defended the condition of it’s Boeing Dreamliner plane which crashed in the country’s western city of Ahmedabad last week, killing all but one of 242 people on board.
The national carrier’s chairman said the aircraft was “well-maintained” and that it’s last major check was two years ago.
“The plane was well-maintained, with its last major check in June 2023,” Air India said in a statement.
“Its right engine was overhauled in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025,” the airline said in a statement.
“Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored showing no issues before the flight.”
Air India also defended their “highly experienced” pilots, confirming Captain Sumeet Sabharwal had racked up over 10,000 hours in the air, while his First Officer Clive Kundar, had over 3400 hours of experience.
With investigations into the fatal crash by the country’s civil aviation regulator progressing steadily, it has been deemed that no “major safety concerns” were found during initial checks on the aircraft.
“Key recovery work, including site documentation and evidence collection, has been completed, and further analysis is now underway,” the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said in a statement.
Flight 171 was in the air for less than 30 seconds before it plunged into a densely populated neighbourhood in Ahmedabad, India.
AIR INDIA BOSS ACCUSED OF PLAGIARISM
The chief executive of the national carrier has been accused of plagiarising his condolence message from another CEO.
Air India head Campbell Wilson, issued a video statement late last week providing a brief update on emerging details of the grizzly crash that has now claimed the lives of 270 people.
However, viewers were quick to spot striking similarities between Mr Wilson’s message and a previous video statement made by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, after one of its planes collided with a black hawk helicopter earlier this year.
Phrases appeared to match word-for-word with the American Airlines response, including the wording “First and most importantly, I’d like to express our deep sorrow” which appeared identically in both.
“I know that there are many questions … I will not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time,” they both read.
Mr Wilson’s two and a half minute message only departed from his American counterpart’s statement when it came to details of the crash.
“We know that many people are (will be) concerned for the welfare of their loved ones … we’ve set up a special helpline friends and family can call,” both statements read.
“This is a difficult day for all of us at (insert airline) and our efforts are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members … their families and loved ones.”
INCREDIBLE NEW VIDEO OF SOLE PLANE CRASH SURVIVOR
Incredible footage shows the sole survivor of the devastating Air India crash walking away calmly from the wreckage — as the aircraft explodes in a huge fireball behind him.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, miraculously survived Thursday’s deadly crash in the city of Ahmedabad after jumping out of seat 11A at the last minute.
The father, who had been in India with his brother Ajay for the past year, is shown talking on the phone as he walks away from the blazing inferno in new video shared on social media.
Terrified witnesses are seen yelling around him after Air India Flight AI171 crashed moments after takeoff into a medical college on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, en route to London Gatwick Airport.
“The plane exploded,” one man can be heard yelling in the clip.
Ramesh’s brother, who was sat near him on board the Boeing 787, was among the 270 people so far confirmed to have died in last week’s crash.
PILOT’S FINAL ACT OF HEROISM
The pilot of the Air India jet that crashed shortly after takeoff has been hailed a hero by residents who say his final actions saved their lives.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 55, is being credited with steering the stricken Boeing 787 Dreamliner away from a three-storey apartment block moments before impact.
All 18 families inside the building — directly beneath the flight path — said they are alive because of his split-second decision to veer toward a patch of open grassland.
The aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, suffered a loss of engine thrust shortly after departing Ahmedabad for London’s Gatwick Airport.
The jet lifted barely 100 metres before issuing a mayday call and crashing into a residential district around lunchtime last Thursday.
Locals said the plane appeared to be heading straight for their homes before banking away at the last second — missing them by mere feet.
At least 279 people have been confirmed dead, including 38 on the ground, making it one of the deadliest air disasters of the 21st century.
Only one person on board survived. However, officials said the final death toll may rise as DNA identification continues.
Air India confirmed the passengers included 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, a Canadian, and 12 crew members.
Captain Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with more than 8200 flying hours, was the son of a senior official at India’s civil aviation authority.
He was also the primary carer for his elderly father, and had phoned him just before takeoff.
Among the survivors on the ground was Geeta Patni, 48, who lives near the crash site.
“The building was shaking. We were so scared,” she told The Sun.
“There was chaos in the street, fire and smoke. Any closer and we would have died. The pilot saved us.”
Jahanvi Rajput, 28, said: “Thanks to the pilot, Captain Sabharwal, we survived. He’s a hero. The green space next to us was visible to him — and that’s where he went.”
Mum of two Chancal Bai, 50, added: “If the plane had hit this residential area, there would have been hundreds more victims.”
Recovery teams have retrieved all bodies from the site, though just 32 have been formally identified so far.
Most of the aircraft wreckage has now been cleared, and the engine will be sent to the US for analysis.
British and American aviation experts have joined India’s National Disaster Response Force in the investigation.
It comes as the first funeral for a British victim — Elcina Alpesh Makwana, 42, from Hounslow, West London — was held on Sunday local time.
Her uncle, Joseph Patelia, said: “Before takeoff, she called her father to say she’d boarded safely and would call again when she landed. That call never came.
“She vanished, leaving us in shock, in tears, unable to believe what we’re hearing.”
An official said that authorities so far have identified 32 victims through DNA testing and bodies of 14 have been handed over to their families.
However, they said due to the severely charred condition of the bodies, it would not be possible to guarantee the recovery of all body parts.
– with AFP
More Coverage
Originally published as Aviation regulator orders Air India to remove officials