DGCA finds ‘serious findings in top airlines’ during audit ahead of key US check
Airlines must respond to these findings, with potential actions pending.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted safety audits of four major Indian airlines – IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet – in preparation for a United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessment scheduled for November 16-20, 2025, according to sources. The DGCA completed these audits in August, three months prior to the FAA's team arrival.
While the specifics of the "serious findings" are undisclosed, one source confirmed that such issues were identified during the DGCA's examination of the airlines. The involved airlines have been instructed to submit their responses to the DGCA, which will be reviewed; unsatisfactory responses may prompt further action. Under the DGCA's audit system, Level-1 findings indicate more severe non-compliance requiring immediate corrective action, while Level-2 findings entail less critical deficiencies with a set timeframe for resolution.
An IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged responding to the DGCA findings but declined further comment. Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have not commented on the matter; however, an Air India official stated that the airline remains aware of the situation and awaits the DGCA's audit. The FAA last evaluated India's civil aviation regulator in 2021, and India currently holds a Category 1 status under the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment program.
Recent events, including the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad and IndiGo's operational issues in December 2025, have raised concerns about the country's aviation safety.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
