Air India warned by watchdog over pilot scheduling breaches

India's aviation watchdog has issued a warning to Air India over "repeated and serious violations" of rules relating to flights from Bengaluru to London.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed Air India to remove three company executives from crew scheduling roles over the breaches, according to government reports, seen by the Reuters news agency.

A divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling, and a planning executive have been removed at the aviation agency's instruction.

The flights on 16 May and 17 May exceeded the allowed pilot flight time limit of 10 hours, according to the report.

It cited "systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversights" and criticised the lack of strict disciplinary measures against responsible officials.

The report is unrelated to this month's crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 that killed 241 people.

The Gatwick-bound flight, which was carrying 53 Britons, came down just after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India on Thursday, 12 June.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

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On Thursday, authorities warned Air India for breaching safety rules after three of its Airbus planes flew despite being overdue for checks on emergency equipment of escape slides.

In a statement to Reuters, Air India said it has implemented the DGCA order, and in the interim, the company's chief operations officer will directly oversee the Integrated Operations Control Centre.

"Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices," it added.

The DGCA stated in its order that Air India had voluntarily disclosed the violations.

Last year, around half of the fines handed out by India's aviation agency were given to Air India or Air India Express.

The biggest fine was $127,000 (£94,370) on Air India for "insufficient oxygen on board" during some international flights.