New Delhi, July 30 - The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulatory authority, has initiated enforcement action against Air India following the discovery of a significant safety lapse during a routine audit. The audit revealed that an Air India aircraft was operating with an overdue inspection of its emergency slide system, a critical component for passenger safety during evacuations. This violation of mandatory safety norms prompted immediate action from the DGCA, which grounded the aircraft until the necessary rectification was completed. The issue came to light through a written response by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in the Rajya Sabha on July 28, 2025, addressing a query raised by DMK member Tiruchi Siva.
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The parliamentarian sought clarification on whether the government was aware that Air India aircraft were allowed to fly with overdue emergency slide inspections in the weeks leading up to the tragic crash of flight AI171 in June 2025, which claimed 260 lives after a Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed into a building shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick. The DGCA’s response underscores its commitment to upholding aviation safety standards through rigorous oversight mechanisms, including surveillance, spot checks, and night surveillance of airlines and their personnel. According to Mohol, the DGCA’s enforcement actions are guided by its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual, which outlines measures such as warnings, suspensions, cancellations, and financial penalties for non-compliance.
In this case, enforcement action has been initiated against both Air India and the responsible personnel, though specific details regarding the timing of the audit or the initiation of the enforcement process were not disclosed. The minister emphasized that DGCA officials are well-trained to perform oversight and enforcement functions, ensuring airlines adhere to stringent safety and maintenance standards. A 2022 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) further validated India’s regulatory framework, assigning an effective implementation score of 85.65 to the DGCA.
This incident adds to Air India’s recent regulatory challenges, as the airline has faced scrutiny for multiple lapses. Earlier reports from June 2025 highlighted DGCA warnings issued to Air India for operating three Airbus aircraft with unchecked emergency slides, with delays in inspections ranging from over a month to three months for aircraft servicing international and domestic routes. The DGCA cited inadequate internal oversight, noting systemic control failures within Air India’s quality and planning departments. These recurring issues have raised concerns about the airline’s maintenance protocols, particularly in the context of the fatal AI 171 crash. While the overdue slide inspections were not directly linked to the crash, they have intensified parliamentary and public scrutiny of Air India’s operational practices and the DGCA’s ability to preempt such lapses. The ministry faces growing pressure to strengthen oversight and address potential gaps in India’s aviation safety ecosystem.