Pilots’ Body Seeks Urgent Fatigue Reforms After Crew Deaths
What Happened
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately revoke airline-specific exemptions to flight duty rules and strengthen fatigue monitoring after highlighting six pilot deaths during duty cycles between November 2023 and September 2026. The federation cited recent incidents, including the death of an Air India captain during training in Delhi, and called for a comprehensive review of pilot fatigue, rostering practices, recovery periods and medical surveillance.
Key Takeaways
While FIP said there is no proven direct link between fatigue and the fatalities, it believes the incidents warrant urgent scrutiny of pilot well-being and safety systems. The group has proposed a national Fatigue Risk Management System (FRMS) oversight programme involving regulators, medical experts and pilot representatives to better manage fatigue risks across Indian aviation.