Aviation Safety and Related Issues in India

Reference

The crash of Air India flight AI-171 (Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner) in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025 has once again highlighted safety concerns in India's aviation sector. More than 260 people died in this accident. This incident calls for deep reflection on the aviation safety framework, regulatory systems and challenges in India.

Current Status of Aviation Sector in India

• India is the third largest domestic aviation market in the world after the US and China.
• More than 240 million passengers travel by air every year and this number is expected to reach 500 million by the year 2030.
• Thousands of flights operate daily in India's airspace making it one of the busiest airspaces in the world.
• However, recent accidents like Ahmedabad and incidents in 2010 (Mangalore) and 2020 (Kozhikode) raise questions about safety standards.

Key findings of DGCA audit

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted an audit of major airports in the country, especially Delhi and Mumbai, after the Ahmedabad accident. Its key findings are as follows:

• Defects in runways and equipment: Blurred runway lines, worn tires and faulty ground handling equipment, such as baggage trolleys and belt loaders.
• Negligence in maintenance: Important parts like thrust reverser system and flap slat levers were found unlocked.
• Delay in data update: No data update for three years and irregularities in line maintenance stores.
• Pilot training: The DGCA has sought training records of pilots and dispatchers from Air India, indicating possible deficiencies in training.

Medical and hygiene concerns

• Pre-flight medical checkups: The audit found irregularities in medical checkups of pilots, which could pose a risk to flight safety.
• Cabin hygiene: Features such as seats, entertainment systems and climate control in some aircraft were not up to international standards.
• Post-crash situation: The Ahmedabad crash exposed the lack of healthcare facilities, with delays in treating the injured and conducting DNA tests to identify the bodies.

Structural issues in aviation safety regulation

• Limited autonomy of the DGCA: The DGCA needs to be made a more autonomous and technically capable body like the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
• Staff shortage: DGCA, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) are short of staff by about 25-53%.
• Monitoring gaps: DGCA's monitoring process is often limited to formalities and airlines violating rules are rarely fined.

Reactive inspection needed instead of preventive

• Reactive approach: DGCA's investigations usually start after accidents, like the audit that started on June 19 after the Ahmedabad accident.
• Lack of regular monitoring: Lack of regular and strict audits leads to safety lapses being overlooked, like blurred runway lines and equipment malfunctions.
• Parliamentary warning: Before the accident, a parliamentary committee had warned of lack of safety funding and staff, but it was not heeded in time. 

International safety standards and India's position

• ICAO standards: According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), India's effective implementation score is 85.65% (improved from 69.95% in 2018), which is above the global average.
• Best performance: India has surpassed the US and China in airworthiness and operations.
• Shortcomings: There have been complaints of suspected shortcuts in the maintenance and manufacturing of aircraft like the Boeing-787.
• Cooperation: The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other international agencies are assisting India in investigating the accident under the ICAO protocol.

Reasons for challenges in aviation sector

• Technical faults: Wrong configuration (flaps, thrust, gear) and heat (43°C) likely responsible for Ahmedabad accident
• Pilot training: Inadequate communication and checks (CRM)
• Infrastructure: Old equipment, lack of buffer zones and poor condition of runways
• Regulatory weaknesses: DGCA's limited capacity and lack of resources
• Commercial pressures: Safety standards ignored to reduce costs

Steps taken so far

• High level committee: The central government has constituted a multi-disciplinary committee headed by the Home Secretary, which will submit its report in three months.
• Boeing audit: DGCA has started an in-depth investigation of Boeing 787 aircraft.
• International cooperation: NTSB and European agencies are assisting in the investigation.
• Emergency response: NDRF and fire brigade carried out prompt rescue operations.

Way forward

• Preventive audits: Establish regular and rigorous audit systems
  • These should be done before accidents rather than after them.
• Empowerment of DGCA: Greater autonomy, staffing and technical capacity enhancement.
• Improve training: Rigorous training for pilots and dispatchers as per ICAO standards
• Upgradation of infrastructure: Improvements in runways, ground handling equipment and buffer zones
• Transparency: Making audit and investigation reports public to enhance trust
• International cooperation: Enhance technical and training cooperation with ICAO, FAA and EASA
• Safety culture: Encourage airlines to prioritise safety over commercial pressures

Conclusion

The Ahmedabad plane crash underlines the urgent need for safety reforms in India’s aviation sector. The DGCA audit has revealed serious deficiencies that reflect not only technical, but also structural and regulatory deficiencies. Even though India’s ICAO score is better than the global average, there is a need for preventive measures, regular monitoring and enhanced resources.