DGCA ramps up scrutiny after deadly Ahmedabad Dreamliner crash; Ministry confirms ongoing enforcement actions.
Air India has come under intense scrutiny from aviation authorities after receiving nine show cause notices over the past six months for five different safety violations, the Civil Aviation Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The update follows a spate of queries raised by Members of Parliament, particularly in the wake of the deadly Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad last month.
Minister Confirms Notices, One Enforcement Concluded
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed the notices, stating that while no adverse trend in crash reliability was reported for Air India during the period, enforcement action has already been completed for one of the violations. Details of the violations, however, were not disclosed publicly.
“Enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation,” the minister noted, responding to a question from CPM MP John Brittas.
Ahmedabad Dreamliner Crash Triggers Oversight
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad — which resulted in 260 deaths and 81 injuries — prompted widespread concerns about Air India’s fleet safety. Only one passenger survived out of the 241 onboard the flight from Ahmedabad to London. Most fatalities occurred on the ground when the aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel.
Fleet-Wide Safety Inspection Ordered
Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched a comprehensive inspection of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft. Out of these:
- 31 aircraft have already been inspected.
- Minor issues were found in 8 aircraft, all of which were cleared after rectification.
- The remaining 2 aircraft are under scheduled maintenance.
This information was revealed by Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu in a written reply to BJP MP Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan.
Sabotage Not Ruled Out
In response to DMK MP Kanimozhi, who asked about the possibility of sabotage in the Ahmedabad incident, Minister Mohol stated that all angles are being investigated.
“Authorities are looking into every possible angle, including sabotage, to determine the cause of the crash,” he assured.
DGCA’s Broader Enforcement Record
The DGCA has been actively issuing enforcement actions across airlines. According to data shared by the Ministry:
- 254 enforcement actions were carried out till April 2025.
- In comparison, 673 actions were taken in 2024, and 542 in 2023.
These enforcement actions range from warnings, suspensions, and cancellations to financial penalties.
Conclusion
With ongoing investigations and increased DGCA oversight, the safety standards of India’s civil aviation — particularly Air India’s operations — are under sharp focus. As updates emerge on enforcement and the Ahmedabad crash investigation, we will continue to report further developments.
