New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to an Air India pilot over operational safety concerns during a flight in June 2025. The incident involved a Boeing 787 en route from Tokyo to Delhi, which had to be diverted to Kolkata due to a sudden spike in cabin temperature, causing discomfort to passengers.
Safety Concerns Raised
The notice, issued on 29 December 2025, highlights serious safety concerns regarding the dispatch of flights AI 358 (Delhi–Tokyo) and AI 357 (Tokyo–Delhi). DGCA pointed out that the aircraft was dispatched without full compliance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), and that the flight crew failed to adequately assess the risks posed by repeated technical issues.
In another case, a Delhi–Tokyo flight reported a smell of smoke in the cabin, raising alarms because similar issues had occurred five times previously, indicating pre-existing system faults. Despite being aware of these recurring problems, the pilots allowed the aircraft to operate.
Deadline to Respond
Flight AI 358 is the Tokyo-bound leg, and AI 357 is the return to Delhi. The notice specifies that the operating crew failed to properly evaluate the combined impact of faulty systems on operational and safety parameters on 28 June 2025. The DGCA has asked the pilot to respond within 14 days, explaining why action should not be taken against them.
Air India has not issued any comment on the notice. Sources indicate that the matter dates back to last June and had been resolved at the time, but the DGCA has formally raised the issue to ensure regulatory compliance.
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