New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued four show-cause notices to Air India citing violations of pilot rest norms, training requirements and cabin crew deployment, calling them systemic lapses that could compromise flight safety. These notices follow voluntary disclosures by Air India just days before a scheduled regulatory audit of its Delhi operations, covering incidents from 2023 and 2024.
Sources reviewed by Economic Times indicate pilots in multiple instances exceeded weekly duty hour limits, including flights operated on June 24, 2024, and June 15, 2025, without the mandated rest periods. The regulator also noted that pilots who had completed simulator training failed to commence active flying within the specified timeframe, rendering the training invalid. Additionally, at least 17 pilots operated into and out of Kathmandu without mandatory high-altitude airport simulation training, despite its complex terrain and special approach requirements.
Cabin crew shortages were also reported on four ultra-long-haul flights to North America in April and May, which were operated with as few as 12 cabin crew members, instead of the required 15. The DGCA has characterized these as serious procedural breaches and gave Air India two weeks to submit explanations and corrective plans. Failure to comply could lead to penalties, leadership accountability measures and further regulatory action.
The regulator’s notices add to a series of safety-related actions taken against Air India in 2025, including nine show-cause notices in the first half of the year alone. These issues have gained urgency following the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI 171 near Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people and has become India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade. The accident has intensified scrutiny of Air India’s governance, safety oversight and crew management practices.
In a statement, Air India confirmed receipt of the notices and stressed that all violations were voluntarily disclosed as part of its internal compliance checks. The airline said it remains committed to passenger and crew safety and is implementing measures to prevent recurrence.
The DGCA has warned that repeated violations despite earlier advisories point to systemic governance failures and could result in stricter enforcement, fines and even leadership restructuring if compliance gaps remain unaddressed.
![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-768x432.jpg)
