A tragic air disaster shook the nation when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad for London Gatwick Airport. The fatal accident claimed the lives of 280 passengers, leading to nationwide mourning and a serious review of safety practices in the aviation industry. Now, findings from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) point to shocking oversights by senior officials — including Payal Arora.
DGCA Uncovers Shocking Lapses
Following the crash, the DGCA launched an in-depth investigation and discovered major mismanagement in the crew assignment process. Three senior Air India staff members were held accountable:
- Chura Singh – Divisional Vice President
- Pinky Mittal – Chief Manager, Crew Scheduling
- Payal Arora – Crew Scheduling (Planning)
The inquiry revealed that flight crew members were scheduled against safety norms, with some crew lacking proper certifications or sufficient rest. These serious violations contributed to what the DGCA described as a “system-wide breakdown.”
As a result, all three officials were relieved from their current responsibilities and moved to non-operational roles. Air India was also instructed to take strict internal action and submit a report within 10 days.
Who is Payal Arora? Career Highlights and Background
Payal Arora has been part of the aviation sector for over seven years, working from Gurugram, Haryana. At Air India, she worked in the training and compliance division, where she was responsible for:
- Overseeing flight crew training programs
- Conducting regular audits
- Ensuring updated DGCA training standards
Her efforts had once improved training efficiency and compliance rates significantly. Prior to Air India, she worked with Vistara (Tata SIA Airlines) from 2018 to 2024, where she trained over 200 cockpit crew members and also flew as an international flight attendant. Her career reflected strengths in risk management, leadership, and emergency handling — until now.
What Went Wrong? DGCA Findings on Payal’s Role
The investigation highlighted that Payal Arora, as part of the scheduling team, authorized flight crew pairings that violated multiple safety guidelines. Some crew were either not certified or were made to operate flights without the required rest period, which is a direct breach of aviation laws.
The DGCA criticized this as part of a broader organizational failure, but Payal’s direct involvement placed her under serious scrutiny.
Action Taken and Current Status
Following the DGCA’s directive, Payal Arora was removed from any safety or operational duties and reassigned to a non-core department. An internal probe was launched by Air India to determine further consequences.
Soon after the disciplinary move, Payal updated her LinkedIn status to “Open to Work”, indicating that she may now be exploring new job opportunities. Despite her qualifications and experience, the crash has significantly impacted her professional image.
Conclusion
The Air India tragedy on 12 June 2025 remains one of the darkest moments in Indian aviation history. As families continue to mourn, the DGCA’s findings reveal how negligence at the top level can lead to devastating outcomes. The naming of officials like Payal Arora shows that accountability is being enforced — but it also raises a critical question:
Are systemic safety protocols in India’s aviation sector strong enough to prevent another tragedy?