India's aviation regulator has taken strict action against the national carrier over safety lapses involving a wide-body aircraft on a key international route. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a formal show cause notice to Air India for operating a Boeing 787 aircraft between Japan and India in June 2025 despite knowing about persistent technical faults.
Incident Details: Diversion and Repeated Snags
The regulatory action stems from specific incidents that occurred at the end of June 2025. One flight, AI 358 from Tokyo's Haneda airport to Delhi, had to be unexpectedly diverted to Kolkata. The reason for this diversion was that the aircraft's cabin became uncomfortably hot, posing a risk to passenger comfort and safety.
This was not an isolated problem. The DGCA's notice, issued on December 29, 2025, reveals a pattern of issues. On the reciprocal flight, AI 357 from Delhi to Tokyo, the crew reported observing a smell of smoke. More alarmingly, the regulator found that repetitive snags related to the same systems had been recorded on five previous sectors. This indicated a known and ongoing history of system degradation that was not adequately addressed.
Regulatory Findings and Alleged Violations
The DGCA's notice outlines several serious safety concerns. It states that during the operation of flights AI 358 and AI 357, concerns arose pertaining to aircraft dispatch, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) compliance, and flight crew decision-making.
A key allegation is that the specific aircraft involved, registered as VT-ANI, was dispatched with incompatible MEL items. The MEL is a crucial document that lists which equipment may be inoperative while still allowing the aircraft to fly safely under specific conditions. Dispatching an aircraft with incompatible MEL items is a direct contravention of aviation safety rules.
Furthermore, the notice implicates the pilots. It states that the pilots of both flights, including the one receiving the notice, accepted the aircraft for operation with prior knowledge of the repeated snags and existing system degradations. On June 28, 2025, the operating crew allegedly failed to adequately assess the combined operational and safety impact of multiple inoperative systems.
Consequences and Air India's Response
The DGCA has directed the concerned pilot to show cause within 14 days of receiving the notice as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated. While Air India did not offer an official comment on the issuance of this notice, sources familiar with the matter indicated that it pertained to incidents from the previous June and that the issue had been resolved at that time.
This regulatory action highlights the ongoing scrutiny of maintenance and operational safety standards within Indian aviation. It underscores the regulator's focus on ensuring that known technical issues are properly rectified and that crews make sound decisions prioritizing safety over operational schedules.
