News for 'Directorate General of Civil Aviation'

AI-171 pilots had 9,300 hours of flying experience

AI-171 pilots had 9,300 hours of flying experience

Rediff.com13 Jun 2025

The pilot of the twin-engine wide bodied aircraft issued a 'Mayday' distress call, denoting a full emergency, soon after takeoff at 1.39 pm, the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad said.

'Mental Health Is Not Unique To Pilots'

'Mental Health Is Not Unique To Pilots'

Rediff.com17 Jul 2025

'AAIB preliminary report was more detailed than most people were expecting.'

Air India, Tata Support Crash Victims' Kin

Air India, Tata Support Crash Victims' Kin

Rediff.com16 Jun 2025

Air India reiterated that its priority remains extending assistance to the families.

No more extensions: IndiGo gets DGCA ultimatum on Turkish plane lease

No more extensions: IndiGo gets DGCA ultimatum on Turkish plane lease

Rediff.com30 May 2025

The development also comes against the backdrop of Turkiye backing Pakistan and condemning India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country earlier this month.

AI 171 Crash: A Timeline Of Events

AI 171 Crash: A Timeline Of Events

Rediff.com12 Jul 2025

A timeline of events related to the investigation of the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, including investigation initiation, black box recovery, and safety measures taken.

Srinagar Airfares Drop After Govt Intervention

Srinagar Airfares Drop After Govt Intervention

Rediff.com25 Apr 2025

Airlines waive cancellation and rescheduling fees and boost flight capacity from Srinagar.

'Even Something Small Could Hold Clues'

'Even Something Small Could Hold Clues'

Rediff.com23 Jun 2025

'The crash site must be secured because something small -- like a pipe or hydraulic line -- could hold a critical clue.'

Akasa in Turbulence: DGCA Flags Repeated Slip-Ups

Akasa in Turbulence: DGCA Flags Repeated Slip-Ups

Rediff.com28 Oct 2025

One of the major concerns highlighted by the DGCA was about the fact that not all staff had completed mandatory fatigue management training.

Air India pilot gave no response after mayday call: DGCA

Air India pilot gave no response after mayday call: DGCA

Rediff.com12 Jun 2025

Soon after the takeoff, the pilot of ill-fated Air India aircraft gave a Mayday call to the Ahmedabad air traffic controller.

Sunny skies await Indian aviation?

Sunny skies await Indian aviation?

Rediff.com23 Dec 2024

The trails of mega-mergers, tailwinds of expanding fleets, flights and airports will dot the fast-growing Indian aviation firmament in 2025, though the dark clouds of supply chain woes will persist longer. Also, new airline takeoffs, the future trajectory of revised norms to tackle pilot fatigue and efforts to reduce carbon emissions will be on the radar.

'Business as usual': Indian firms brush off Turkiye tensions

'Business as usual': Indian firms brush off Turkiye tensions

Rediff.com10 Jun 2025

Even as New Delhi turns up the heat on Turkish firms over Ankara's public embrace of Islamabad, Indian companies rooted in Trkiye are staying put. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Dabur India, and Jubilant FoodWorks say it's business as usual, with no plans to alter course despite the geopolitical chill.

AI crash: Pilot's father rejects suicide, mental health claims

AI crash: Pilot's father rejects suicide, mental health claims

Rediff.com17 Sep 2025

'It is most pertinent to note that in over 25 years of flying, Captain Sabharwal had not had a single incident or accident-causing fatalities or otherwise'

'India Should Move Quickly As Conditions Change'

'India Should Move Quickly As Conditions Change'

Rediff.com2 Jan 2026

'The real story of 2025 is that India officially stopped being a 'market of the future' and started acting as the world's primary economic engine.'

Who should head India's aviation regulator DGCA?

Who should head India's aviation regulator DGCA?

Rediff.com6 Oct 2021

Ahead of two crucial audits, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has proposed to allow deputy director generals (DGs) and officers of Indian Air Force (IAF) to apply for the post of chief of India's aviation regulator. The current head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Arun Kumar, has been promoted as secretary and is expected to move out some time soon. DGCA has four Deputy DGs with experience in different fields of aviation.

Why this deafening silence over crash, Praful Patel asks Singapore Airlines

Why this deafening silence over crash, Praful Patel asks Singapore Airlines

Rediff.com18 Jun 2025

Former Civil Aviation Minister and senior NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday questioned the "silence" of Singapore Airlines over the horrific crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad last week.

Meet the team probing the Air India crash

Meet the team probing the Air India crash

Rediff.com13 Jul 2025

A five-member team, headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, is probing the fatal crash of the Air India aircraft last month in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report and appointed the team.

Chopper crashes near Kedarnath, all 7 on board killed; AAIB to probe

Chopper crashes near Kedarnath, all 7 on board killed; AAIB to probe

Rediff.com15 Jun 2025

Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar told PTI that the accident took place above the forests of Gaurikund amid poor visibility due to bad weather.

Tata Sons chief urges safer skies after AI crash; panel probes causes

Tata Sons chief urges safer skies after AI crash; panel probes causes

Rediff.com17 Jun 2025

Addressing close to 700 employees and the leadership team across the Air India headquarters and Air India Training Academy in Gurugram, Chandrasekaran urged them to stay on course, terming the accident the most "heartbreaking" crisis of his career.

Arun Kumar appointed chief of aviation regulatory body

Arun Kumar appointed chief of aviation regulatory body

Rediff.com9 Jul 2019

Kumar is an IAS officer of 1989 batch of Haryana cadre.

DGCA audit reveals major lapses in flight safety

DGCA audit reveals major lapses in flight safety

Rediff.com25 Jun 2025

Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said surveillance conducted at major airports revealed several defects in the aviation ecosystem, including multiple cases wherein the defects reappeared on aircraft and centre line marking faded on runway.

Delhi gears up for first artificial rain through cloud seeding

Delhi gears up for first artificial rain through cloud seeding

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

Delhi is preparing for its first artificial rain through cloud seeding to combat air pollution. A trial run was successful, and the first rainfall is expected on October 29 if weather conditions are favorable.

IndiGo crew sought to enter Pak airspace, confirms DGCA

IndiGo crew sought to enter Pak airspace, confirms DGCA

Rediff.com23 May 2025

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar encountered severe turbulence near Pathankot on Wednesday, prompting the crew to request permission to enter Pakistani airspace to avoid the weather. However, their request was denied. The aircraft, an A321 neo operating flight 6E 2142, experienced hailstorm and turbulence, triggering various warnings and forcing the autopilot to trip. The crew managed to safely land the aircraft in Srinagar after a harrowing experience. The incident is under investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which confirmed there were no injuries to passengers but noted damage to the aircraft's nose radome.

International flights at Navi Mumbai airport by July next year

International flights at Navi Mumbai airport by July next year

Rediff.com3 Mar 2025

It is the first airport in the country to have multi-modal connectivity. This includes a linkage to the project via road, rail, and a metro system.

Flyer urinates on fellow passenger on Bangkok Air India flight

Flyer urinates on fellow passenger on Bangkok Air India flight

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

An Air India passenger allegedly urinated on a fellow traveller during a flight from Delhi to Bangkok on Wednesday. Air India has reported the incident to the authorities (DGCA) and is investigating the matter. The airline has also stated that its crew followed all laid down procedures in handling the situation and offered assistance to the aggrieved passenger.

IndiGo Tops in Flight Cancellations

IndiGo Tops in Flight Cancellations

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

IndiGo, which operates the largest fleet among Indian carriers, has reported the highest number of serious engine-related incidents.

AI 171 crash victims' families sue Boeing, blame fuel cutoff switch

AI 171 crash victims' families sue Boeing, blame fuel cutoff switch

Rediff.com18 Sep 2025

The lawsuit has compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants for the wrongful deaths of four passengers on flight 171, US-based law firm The Lanier Law Firm said in a statement.

Amid crisis, Air India asked to remove 3 officials

Amid crisis, Air India asked to remove 3 officials

Rediff.com21 Jun 2025

The three officials include a divisional vice president of the airline, as per the DGCA order.

Air India flight to Bangkok held at Mumbai airport for over 5 hrs

Air India flight to Bangkok held at Mumbai airport for over 5 hrs

Rediff.com27 Jun 2025

A Bangkok-bound Air India flight from Mumbai was held back for over five hours on June 25, after some hay was found stuck in one of the aircraft's wings, the airline has said.

IndiGo assault: Aviation minister seeks report from DGCA

IndiGo assault: Aviation minister seeks report from DGCA

Rediff.com8 Nov 2017

"In a civilised society fisticuffs have to be condemned ...action has to be taken," Raju told reporters.

Ensure ample staff at check-in counters, govt tells airlines as fog sets in

Ensure ample staff at check-in counters, govt tells airlines as fog sets in

Rediff.com21 Nov 2024

Airlines must ensure that all check-in counters at the Delhi airport are fully staffed to minimise passenger inconvenience as smog has started affecting the flight operations, Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu directed on Wednesday. The minister gave this direction during a meeting with representatives of major airlines, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Father performs last rites of AI 171 pilot Capt Sabharwal

Father performs last rites of AI 171 pilot Capt Sabharwal

Rediff.com17 Jun 2025

The last rites of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, pilot in command of the Air India plane that crashed in Ahmedabad last week, were performed in Mumbai on Tuesday with his grief-stricken father bidding a heart-wrenching, tearful farewell to his son before the cremation.

Air India crisis continues, cancels 3 more int'l flights due to tech snag

Air India crisis continues, cancels 3 more int'l flights due to tech snag

Rediff.com18 Jun 2025

Two of these flights were cancelled after the passengers had already boarded the aircraft, the airline said.

Air India fires trainer pilot, grounds 10 others trained by him

Air India fires trainer pilot, grounds 10 others trained by him

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

Air India has terminated the services of a trainer pilot for lapses during simulator training. Ten pilots who underwent training under the trainer pilot have been removed from flying duties pending investigation. The action follows a whistleblower complaint alleging that the trainer pilot failed to properly discharge his duties. Air India conducted a detailed probe and corroborated the allegations. The airline voluntarily reported the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and commended the whistleblower for coming forward.

AI crash: SC slams 'piecemeal' release of probe report

AI crash: SC slams 'piecemeal' release of probe report

Rediff.com22 Sep 2025

The Supreme Court has criticized the selective publication of a preliminary report on the Air India crash, calling it 'unfortunate and irresponsible'. The court raised concerns about privacy, dignity of victims' families, and the potential for biased narratives.

DGCA orders inspection of Boeing 787, 737 fuel switch system

DGCA orders inspection of Boeing 787, 737 fuel switch system

Rediff.com14 Jul 2025

The DGCA has asked airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking system in their Boeing 787 and 737 planes after a preliminary probe report into the Air India crash found that the switches were cut off before the accident.

Air India flight fell on ground right after take-off

Air India flight fell on ground right after take-off

Rediff.com12 Jun 2025

The Air India plane AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed immediately after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, as per the Gujarat State Police Control Room.

Air India Delhi-New York flyer finds cockroach in food

Air India Delhi-New York flyer finds cockroach in food

Rediff.com28 Sep 2024

An Air India passenger has complained of finding a cockroach in an omelette served onboard the flight from the national capital to New York, with the airline saying the matter has been taken up with the catering service provider for further investigation.

'This Isn't How A Crash Probe Should Work'

'This Isn't How A Crash Probe Should Work'

Rediff.com30 Jun 2025

'... when the process isn't transparent, people will naturally raise questions. 'The AAIB's own press release says they had the black boxes by June 16.' 'Why wasn't decoding initiated until the 24th? What were they waiting for?'

Bill to replace DGCA by new aviation regulator

Bill to replace DGCA by new aviation regulator

Rediff.com3 Apr 2013

The new regulator will be called Civil Aviation Authority that will also administer financial matters.

DGCA Pulls Up Air India Again

DGCA Pulls Up Air India Again

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

The DGCA has issued four showcause notices to Air India over repeated violations of cabin crew deployment, training lapses, rest regulations, and operational oversight that compromise flight safety.