Overview

• Congress MP Manish Tewari called on August 1 for the government to take Air India back from the Tata Group, calling its privatisation a disaster run by non-aviation executives.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s audit identified 51 safety lapses, including outdated training manuals and incomplete pilot preparation, with critical Level I breaches due by July 30.
• The DGCA issued three show-cause notices and grounded an aircraft over an overdue emergency slide inspection, giving Air India 15 days to respond.
• A London-bound flight AI-2017 returned to the bay after crew detected a suspected technical fault before takeoff, highlighting ongoing operational challenges.
• Political pressure is intensifying as regulators enforce safety deadlines and lawmakers urge a government review of the 2022 privatisation deal.