New Delhi, India: The deaths of two commercial pilots within a span of 48 hours have prompted the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) to raise urgent concerns over pilot fatigue, warning that delays in implementing stricter duty-time regulations could pose a serious threat to flight safety.
In a formal communication to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on May 1, 2026, ALPA stated that both pilots died “in the line of duty,” intensifying scrutiny of working conditions in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
According to reports, one of the deceased was an Air India pilot who died during a layover in Bali, while the other, an Akasa Air pilot, died in Bengaluru during training. Both were under 45 years of age, had cleared mandatory medical checks, and were operating within existing DGCA duty limits.
The circumstances have raised critical questions about whether compliance with current regulations is sufficient to ensure pilot health and operational safety.
ALPA warned that repeated delays and relaxations in implementing revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) are exacerbating fatigue among pilots. The association said that temporary exemptions granted to airlines have effectively become routine, weakening the intent of fatigue management rules.
The body also highlighted concerns over what it described as an “alarmingly low” acceptance rate of fatigue reports submitted by pilots, suggesting systemic discouragement of reporting within airlines.
Parallel reporting indicates that ALPA has cautioned that postponing full implementation of court-mandated FDTL norms could undermine safety protocols and worsen fatigue-related risks.
Data cited in investigative findings show that Indian pilots can be scheduled for up to 60 hours of duty per week exceeding internationally recognised thresholds linked to increased cardiovascular risk.
The report also noted a rise in pilots declared medically unfit over the years, alongside multiple instances of relatively young pilots suffering cardiac events while on duty or shortly after flights.
Industry data further suggests inconsistencies in fatigue reporting. For instance, some airlines report significantly fewer fatigue incidents despite operating more demanding long-haul schedules, raising questions about reporting practices and safety culture.
Pilot fatigue has been a persistent issue in Indian aviation. Previous incidents including deaths of on-duty pilots and widespread complaints about demanding rosters have repeatedly triggered calls for reform.
Regulatory action has been attempted in recent years. The DGCA introduced stricter fatigue management rules, including increased weekly rest periods and limits on night operations. However, implementation has been uneven, with temporary relaxations granted to airlines to maintain operational stability.
The issue came into sharper focus during the 2025 IndiGo scheduling crisis, when disruptions exposed structural weaknesses in crew planning and fatigue management across the sector.
ALPA has urged the DGCA to fully implement revised fatigue regulations without further delay, ensure transparency in fatigue data, and strengthen protections for pilots reporting exhaustion.
The association maintains that addressing fatigue is not merely a labour issue but a critical safety imperative, particularly as India continues to witness rapid growth in air traffic and fleet expansion.
