Indian pilot union urges regulator to overhaul fatigue rules after six on-duty deaths

The Federation of Indian Pilots submitted a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation demanding a comprehensive, urgent review of fatigue exposure and rostering practices after six pilots died on duty from November 2023 to September 11 2026. The union highlighted growing evidence of fatigue-related operational risks and criticized the continued use of operator-specific dispensations that weaken flight-duty-time-limitation (FDTL) provisions.

It urged the regulator to enforce uniform implementation of all approved FDTL rules, establish a DGCA-led National FRMS Oversight Programme, and require quarterly fatigue-reporting from airlines. The body also stressed that pilots often under-report fatigue due to fears of roster disruption and career repercussions, calling for more transparent reporting mechanisms and stronger protections. While not asserting a direct causal link between fatigue and each death, the federation sees the incidents as a catalyst for stronger fatigue-risk governance and pilot health monitoring across Indian aviation.