Since the Tata takeover, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has repeatedly fined Air India over safety and other regulatory violations, including an Rs8mn ($95,000) penalty last year for exceeding flight duty time limits. At home, it is competing in a near-duopoly with IndiGo, which has been boosting its international long-haul routes.

DGCA increases scrutiny of Air India after AI 171 crash, urging higher safety standards. Immediate corrective steps and better crisis communication are mandated.