ISLAMABAD: India’s aviation ministry has summoned Air India CEO Tewolde Gebremariam to explain why three foreign nationals allegedly left the country without completing mandatory departure immigration clearance at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Indian media reported.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a show-cause notice to Tata-owned Air India, describing the incident as a serious security and immigration-related lapse. The ministry is seeking details on the circumstances behind the alleged violation of mandatory immigration procedures.
The three passengers flew from Amritsar to Delhi on Sept 4 and then boarded a Lufthansa flight from Delhi to Munich.
The Home Ministry has called a meeting of the stakeholders to discuss the incident on Tuesday.
Secretary and Additional Secretary at the Civil Aviation Ministry, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Additional Secretary at the Home Ministry, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner, Air India CEO and Delhi Airport CEO are expected to attend the meeting.
Air India has not commented on the meeting.
However, earlier on Sept 7, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran reaffirmed the airline's focus on safety, customer trust, operational excellence and financial sustainability as it enters its next phase of transformation.
History of fines, lapses
In 2023, Air India was initially fined for mishandling unruly passengers on international flights. Subsequently, technical malfunctions led to emergency landings on long-haul routes in June 2023 and July 2024.
In March 2024, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation fined the airline approximately $93,000 for violating flight crew rest regulations, revealing lapses in fatigue management.
In March 2025, Air India’s $400 million initiative to refurbish its aircraft interiors was delayed by supply chain disruptions, pushing its upgrade timeline beyond the original mid-2024 target.
Compounding these issues, a devastating plane crash in June 2025 that killed more than 240 people has thrown the airline into its gravest crisis, significantly hindering Tata’s efforts to restore trust and enhance Air India's global competitiveness.
In April 2025, Pakistan closed its airspace to all Indian aircraft in response to geopolitical tensions following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian-Occupied Kashmir.
Air India was one of the affected airlines and continues to face an estimated $600 million annual loss, mainly due to longer flight routes, higher fuel consumption, and operational disruptions.