Air India Pilots Face DGCA Notice for Flying Snag-Prone Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to several Air India pilots. This action follows serious safety concerns on flights AI-358 and AI-357. These flights operate the busy Delhi-Tokyo route. The regulator alleges the flight crew accepted a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner despite repeated technical snags. This incident raises significant questions about Air India safety concerns and operational compliance within the airline.

Regulatory Action and Allegations

The notice was issued in late December 2025. It pertains to operations that occurred in June 2025. The DGCA highlighted issues with aircraft dispatch violations. A key area of concern was Minimum Equipment List compliance. The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) outlines the minimum operational equipment needed for a flight. Non-compliance with the MEL is a serious breach of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

The regulator noted the involved aircraft, registered VT-ANI, had a known history of system degradation operations. Repetitive snags related to the same systems were recorded across five previous flight sectors. Specific issues cited included a smoke smell detected near a door on one of the flights. Another violation involved the lower right recirculation fan on flight AI-358.

Focus on Pilot Decision-Making

A central point of the DGCA's notice is the Air India pilot decision-making. The pilots allegedly accepted the aircraft for operation with prior knowledge of the existing defects. The DGCA stated the operating crew failed to fully assess the combined operational impact. This failure to exercise sound flight crew operational judgment is a major regulatory concern. The pilots have been given 14 days to submit their explanations. Failure to provide a satisfactory response could lead to enforcement action.

Industry and Safety Impact

This incident underscores the critical role of the MEL in maintaining safety standards. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates adherence to these maintenance protocols. Operating a complex aircraft like the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with known, repetitive faults increases operational risk.

Aviation safety experts suggest this reflects deeper safety culture issues at the airline. They argue that reliance on paperwork over a risk-based assessment can be dangerous. For passengers, this news highlights the importance of strong oversight from the Aviation safety regulator India. The DGCA's firm stance reinforces its commitment to enforcing strict safety standards. The DGCA is the primary safety watchdog in India, similar to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe.

The Tata Group-owned Air India is undergoing a major fleet and operational overhaul. Incidents like this pose a challenge to the airline's efforts to improve its global reputation. Maintaining compliance with CAR is paramount for all commercial aviation news stakeholders. You can find more updates on this story and other commercial aviation news at flying.flights.