NEW DELHI, May 1 — The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) issued a formal warning to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday, stating that the domestic aviation sector is facing a critical safety risk due to pilot exhaustion. The alert follows the deaths of two pilots within a 48-hour window, an occurrence that the association affirms is a direct consequence of systemic fatigue and delayed regulatory enforcement.
In a communication addressed to the regulator, ALPA maintained that the recent fatalities involve pilots under the age of 45, which serves as a stark indicator of the physical toll caused by current rostering practices. The association stated that the “material dilution” of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) has allowed airlines to operate at the edge of safety limits without necessary buffers. They affirmed that the practice of allowing annual leave to substitute for mandatory weekly rest is causing severe circadian disruption among flight crews.
“The safety of human life must remain paramount and non-negotiable in all aviation operations,” the association declared. ALPA maintained that commercial pressures are currently overriding safety imperatives, leading to an environment where fatigue reports are frequently dismissed by operators.
The pilots’ body also raised concerns regarding the lack of transparency, specifically pointing to the non-disclosure of an inquiry report from a December 2025 IndiGo operational disruption. They stated that withholding such information hinders accountability and prevents the industry from learning from past failures. To address these gaps, ALPA affirmed that the DGCA must mandate public disclosure of pilot health data, including cases of temporary and permanent medical unfitness.
Authorities from the association affirmed that a time-bound roadmap for FDTL implementation is the only way to restore regulatory credibility. They stated that the regulator must withdraw all existing relaxations and ensure that airlines maintain stable rosters. They affirmed that any further delay in enforcing these safety standards would undermine the integrity of India’s aviation framework.
