Ahmedabad crash: DGCA orders Air India to remove 3 officials; roles related to crew scheduling – report | India News

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Saturday directed Air India to remove its three senior officials from all roles related to crew scheduling and rostering, news agency PTI reported quoting sources.As per the report, one of those named is a divisional vice president at the airline.On 12 June, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, tragically crashed into a hostel at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar, shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Of the 242 people aboard, 241 died, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, along with dozens more on the ground.In its order dated 20 June, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Tata Group-owned Air India to promptly initiate internal disciplinary action against three officials. A week later, significant progress has been made in identifying victims. Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi said: “As of 5.45 pm, 231 DNA samples of the deceased have matched with their family members. Out of those 231 matched samples, 210 bodies have been handed over to their families.” He added, “From the rest of 21 bodies, 8 families are waiting for the DNA match of another member… we are in contact with the families of 10 deceased… Remaining 3 bodies are in the postmortem room. Out of this 210, bodies of 16 were transferred by air, and 194 by road.”Air India’s CEO and MD, Campbell Wilson, reassured the public that the fleet, especially Boeing 787s, remains safe. In a statement, he confirmed: “Have our aircraft been deemed safe? Yes. We have completed the additional precautionary checks…” He emphasised the airline’s commitment to caution: “Where there is any doubt, we will not release aircraft …for service.”Wilson pledged ongoing support for affected families and staff: “We continue to mourn… Around 500 colleagues from Air India and 17 other Tata companies remain in Ahmedabad to help the families… 200 have received some degree of solace and closure.” He added: “The counselling services… continue to be available to everyone and I encourage you to avail of it.”