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India’s civil aviation regulator has cited Air India for 51 violations of safety regulations, following a routine annual audit of the airline’s operations. The findings were released just weeks after a deadly crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, although authorities emphasized that the audit and the crash are not directly related.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s primary aviation regulatory body, conducted the audit in July 2024 as part of its regular oversight responsibilities. According to the report, seven of the violations were categorized as serious, though the agency did not provide further details about the specific issues involved.
The audit was aimed at assessing Air India’s compliance with safety protocols, aircraft maintenance standards, and crew training programs.
Air India Responds
In a statement, Air India confirmed it had fully cooperated with the DGCA during the inspection and reaffirmed its commitment to safety.
“It is standard practice for all airlines to undergo periodic safety audits to ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency and passenger safety,” a company spokesperson said. “We participated transparently and constructively.”
Air India further clarified that the audit was not triggered by the crash, but was part of the DGCA’s scheduled aviation safety assessments.
The audit findings come in the wake of a tragic accident involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed earlier this year, killing 260 people. The incident has sparked public anxiety and heightened calls for reform within India’s growing aviation sector.
The aircraft involved belongs to the Boeing 787 series, which has been widely adopted by global carriers for long-haul international routes.
Although the DGCA has stated that the audit is separate from the crash investigation, the timing of the release has intensified pressure on both regulators and airline operators to reinforce safety systems.
Aviation Sector Faces Growing Challenges
India’s aviation industry—one of the fastest growing in the world—is under increasing pressure to ensure regulatory compliance and passenger safety. According to analysts, the DGCA’s findings could prompt broader investigations into the safety culture across all Indian carriers.
“This audit is a wake-up call for the entire industry,” said aviation analyst Rohan Deshpande. “The pace of growth in Indian aviation must be matched by equally rigorous safety oversight.”
India’s air travel market is expected to double in passenger volume by 2035, making it one of the most critical regions globally for air safety enforcement.
