India’s top aviation regulator has called off its scheduled safety inspection of Air India’s headquarters due to the airline’s response efforts amid growing tensions in the Middle East, according to two people directly aware of the matter.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had planned to send a team of 10 officials to Air India’s corporate office near New Delhi on Tuesday for its annual regulatory audit. However, the visit was cancelled at the last minute.

A source familiar with the situation said a key reason for the cancellation was that Air India was busy managing a crisis after suspending all operations to several international destinations.

Air India halts flights to multiple regions

On Monday night, Air India announced it would suspend all flights to the Middle East, Europe, and the East Coast of North America “until further notice” due to rising security concerns amid the Israel-Iran conflict.

Investigation after fatal crash

The airline is already under intense public and regulatory scrutiny following a tragic crash that recently claimed the lives of 271 passengers. This made the annual audit particularly important, as it was expected to assess safety and compliance protocols post-incident.

As of now, neither Air India nor the DGCA has responded to Reuters' request for a statement on the cancelled audit or the flight suspensions.

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