Amid rising air traffic and recent airline accidents, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation maintains that the country's skies are safe. Yet, concerns linger about maintenance and safety culture in light of multiple incidents involving major airlines.
Navigating Safety Concerns in India's Expanding Aviation Sector
Navigating Safety Concerns in India's Expanding Aviation Sector
With a significant growth in air travel, India's aviation safety is under scrutiny following recent incidents and regulatory responses.
As India's aviation industry soars to new heights, its safety measures are facing critical scrutiny. The question of whether India's skies are indeed safe has been propelled into the public consciousness following the tragic Air India crash on June 12, which resulted in the deaths of at least 270 individuals after a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plummeted shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), firmly asserts that India's aviation record is commendable. He pointed out that metrics from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) show India consistently performing better than the global average in terms of flight safety, with only two years since 2010 where major accidents coincided with higher accident rates.
In recent years, however, disasters, including the Air India Express Flight 1344 crash in 2020 and the Mangalore incident a decade ago, have kept public attention on safety. The DGCA’s latest reviews have highlighted issues amongst airlines, particularly with SpiceJet, which has faced scrutiny after several alarming findings regarding its maintenance practices were reported by a British aviation firm. Problems escalated to the regulator’s attention due to premature propeller failures on SpiceJet's aircraft.
Kidwai confirmed that the DGCA began addressing the issues with SpiceJet after being made aware of the propellent circumstances. Following further audits revealing deficiencies, the DGCA insisted on swift corrective actions from the airline, which led to the suspension of several senior management personnel.
Other recent incidents, including a serious turbulence episode involving an IndiGo flight, have added to existing safety worries. Such turmoil prompted investigations and operational adjustments to pilot guidelines for turbulence navigation, underscoring a growing awareness of safety among regulators and carriers alike.
Nevertheless, since 2020, the Indian domestic carriers have logged nearly 2,500 technical faults, with IndiGo and SpiceJet leading the reports. Kidwai has stressed the importance of fostering a culture where all maintenance issues are reported, stating that transparency leads to safer operations.
The rapid expansion of India’s aviation market, now the third largest globally, has brought the issue of regulatory burden to the forefront. Despite budget cuts in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which raises questions about regulatory oversight, passenger numbers have surged—jumping from 116 million in 2014-15 to 239 million today.
In light of the recent crash, Kidwai believes it has not significantly impacted air travel demand, noting only a transient dip in traffic. "As clarity emerges over time, public anxiety often subsides," he said.
As Indian skies continue to fill with more passengers, the challenge remains to ensure that the momentum of growth does not compromise safety—a delicate balance that both regulators and airlines must navigate.
