The devastating Air India plane crash that occurred on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, sent shockwaves across the country. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just minutes after takeoff, tragically claiming 280 lives. This horrific incident not only raised serious concerns about Air India’s safety measures but also forced the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take swift action.

DGCA’s Probe Reveals Shocking Oversight by Senior Officials

The DGCA investigation uncovered serious flaws in crew scheduling and rostering, and held three senior officials accountable:

• Chura Singh (Divisional Vice President)
• Payal Arora (Crew Scheduling – Planning)
• Pinky Mittal (Chief Manager, Crew Scheduling)

Despite having 27 years of experience, Pinky Mittal’s name being included in the list of responsible officials has raised eyebrows. How could someone so experienced make such a critical error? Let’s take a closer look at her career journey.

Who is Pinky Mittal?

Pinky Mittal was serving as the Chief Manager – Crew Rostering at Air India. With more than 27 years of aviation industry experience, she had built a reputation in crew management, operations oversight, and team leadership. She is known for her professionalism, confidentiality, and commitment to accountability.

Pinky Mittal’s Career Journey

1. Air India Ltd. (2023 – Present):
   Currently serving as Chief Manager, Crew Scheduling. She also worked with Air India from February 2011 to February 2012 in earlier roles.
2. IndiGo (Feb 2012 – Jan 2023):
   Held multiple key roles for over 11 years:
   • Manager, Crew Scheduling (2019–2023): 4 years
   • Assistant Manager (2016–2019): 2 years 11 months
   • Senior Executive, Team Leader (2014–2016): 1 year 6 months
   • Executive, Cockpit Crew Scheduling (2012–2014): 2 years 8 months
3. Alliance Air (July 1997 – Feb 2011):
   Contributed for nearly 14 years in various operations roles.

Pinky Mittal’s Educational Background

• IMT Ghaziabad (2015–2016):
  Post Graduate Diploma in Executive Management (Operations)
• Loreto Convent School (1989–1992):
  Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and Government
• Ashok Hall Girls Higher Secondary School (1974–1989):
  Higher Secondary – Liberal Arts and Science

Honoured Just a Year Ago

Just a year prior to the crash, Pinky Mittal proudly shared on social media that she had been awarded as ‘IMPACCT Champion’ and ‘Pathfinder’ by Air India’s leadership. She thanked her mentors — Sandeep Mehrotra, Sukhraj Mehta, and Sanjeev Basil — and expressed pride in being seen as a valuable asset to Air India. Sadly, this recognition now stands in sharp contrast to her current controversy.

Why Did DGCA Hold Pinky Mittal Responsible?

1️⃣ Unauthorized Crew Pairings:

Under her supervision, pilots and crew members were paired in violation of safety norms. Some were assigned to fly without proper clearance or qualifications.

2️⃣ Violation of Rest and Licensing Rules:

Several crew members were not given adequate rest periods, affecting their readiness to perform. Additionally, licensing standards were overlooked in some instances.

3️⃣ Repeated Scheduling Errors:

The DGCA stated that these were not isolated mistakes, but part of an ongoing pattern of mismanagement under Mittal’s oversight. Scheduling inconsistencies and failure to monitor staff compliance were cited as key safety risks.

Why Her Experience Didn’t Help This Time

Although Pinky Mittal’s 27 years of experience reflect deep industry knowledge, the Ahmedabad crash has cast a shadow over her long-standing reputation. The DGCA’s actions show that no amount of experience can justify negligence when passenger safety is at stake. This disaster serves as a major lesson — not just for Air India, but for the aviation sector as a whole.