Air India Faces Action by DGCA Due to Delayed Emergency Slide Inspections
Air India Faces Enforcement Actions Over Lapses, but Details Remain Scant
Air India, the national carrier of India, has been under scrutiny by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) due to various lapses in recent times. However, the nature of these lapses and their connection to specific safety norms have not been clearly outlined.
In 2022, the number of technical glitches experienced by Air India was 528, a figure that saw a nearly 6% decline compared to 2023. The DGCA, responsible for overseeing and enforcing safety regulations in Indian civil aviation, grounded the aircraft until the necessary rectifications were made.
The Indian government announced that Air India's emergency slide inspection was overdue during an audit. Despite this, there is no specific publicly available information about Air India's compliance with emergency slide inspections and other safety norms being consistently enforced by the DGCA in the years leading up to 2025.
DGCA data shows a broader pattern of technical issues with in-flight engine shutdowns and Mayday calls across Indian airlines, including Air India. However, it does not directly address emergency slide inspections or routine DGCA enforcement activities regarding such equipment.
The DGCA has taken enforcement actions against Air India from 2020 to 2025. These actions include warnings, suspensions, cancellations, and financial penalties for airlines/personnel. The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, confirmed these actions in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.
However, the nature of these complaints is not specified, and it does not clarify if they involved emergency slide inspections or compliance with specific safety norms. The DGCA continues to ensure compliance by airlines with all safety and maintenance standards.
It is important to note that there is no information available that directly links these technical faults to the crash of Flight-171 in June 2025. The DGCA officials are trained to perform oversight and enforcement functions, and they use mechanisms such as surveillance, spot checks, and night surveillance to monitor airlines and their personnel.
The Civil Aviation Minister, K Rammohan Naidu, reported 183 technical faults in Indian planes this year. Despite this, the specific details about when the audit was conducted or when the enforcement action was initiated have not been disclosed.
In 2021, the count of technical glitches was at 514. To date, a total of 2,094 investigations have been carried out against serious defects/snags reported in the last 5 years (up to June 2025).
The DGCA ensures compliance by airlines with all safety and maintenance standards. However, the lack of clarity regarding Air India's specific compliance with emergency slide inspections and other safety norms raises concerns about the airline's safety record. Further investigation and transparency from the DGCA are necessary to address these concerns and ensure the safety of passengers flying with Air India.
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- The DGCA's enforcement actions against Air India from 2020 to 2025 have encompassed warnings, suspensions, cancellations, and financial penalties, crossing over into the realm of aviation and finance industries.
- In the broader transportation sector, technical issues plaguing Indian airlines, including Air India, have been highlighted in DGCA data, with an emphasis on in-flight engine shutdowns and Mayday calls, yet specific focus on emergency slide inspections and compliance with safety norms remains scant.
