Tragedy Sparks a National Reckoning
India’s aviation industry is facing renewed scrutiny after a devastating crash on June 12 claimed the lives of at least 270 people. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, plunged to the ground less than a minute after take-off from Ahmedabad airport. It marked one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history and the third major Air India crash in 15 years.
The tragedy has sparked urgent public debate: Are India’s skies truly safe? In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country’s air safety watchdog, has sought to reassure the public—but a spate of troubling incidents and ongoing regulatory challenges suggest deeper concerns may be taking flight.
Air Safety Metrics: India Above Average, But Not Unblemished
Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, chief of the DGCA, told the BBC that by global safety metrics—like those published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)—India has historically fared well. “There were only two years between 2010 and 2024 where our accident rate exceeded the global average,” he noted.
But three deadly crashes since 2010 have left lasting scars: the Kozhikode runway tragedy in 2020 that killed 21, the 2010 Mangalore runway overshoot that killed 158, and now June’s catastrophic crash. Though statistically rare, such high-profile disasters underscore how lapses in safety can have enormous consequences.
Beyond fatal crashes, recent incidents—ranging from mid-air turbulence to questionable maintenance practices—have reignited public anxiety.
Red Flags: Maintenance Gaps and Regulatory Oversight
One of the most pressing concerns stems from oversight failures at major Indian carriers. A recent Economic Times investigation into SpiceJet, India’s fourth-largest airline, revealed that two of its De Havilland Q400 turboprops suffered premature propeller failures. Instead of addressing the root issue, the airline allegedly applied more grease to damaged internal bearings.
It took intervention from Dowty Propellers, a UK-based GE Aerospace firm, to alert Indian authorities. The DGCA confirmed that senior management at SpiceJet had been unaware of the issue, and disciplinary action—including suspensions—was taken.
Separately, Reuters reported that Air India Express delayed the mandatory replacement of engine parts on an Airbus A320 and falsified maintenance records to appear compliant. Though the airline self-reported the error, the case highlighted the dangers of cutting corners in a sector where precision is non-negotiable.
Mr. Kidwai acknowledged these lapses but noted that increased self-reporting signals a positive cultural shift. “It’s far better for every snag to be brought to our attention than kept quiet,” he said.
Weather, Turbulence, and a Growing Risk Landscape
Technical faults aren’t the only source of anxiety. In May, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar experienced severe turbulence and hailstorms. Overhead bins were ripped open and the nose cone of the Airbus A321 was damaged mid-air. Though the crew landed safely and no passengers were injured, the incident underscored how climate-related turbulence is becoming a more common threat.
Following the event, DGCA grounded the pilots and issued new, stricter guidelines for navigating turbulent weather. Pilots must now take evasive actions—such as diverting or delaying approach—ahead of any high-risk meteorological patterns.
ince 2020, Indian carriers have reported 2,461 technical faults, according to the civil aviation ministry. IndiGo accounted for more than half, followed by SpiceJet, and Air India with its low-cost arm, Air India Express. While the rise in reporting reflects greater transparency, it also points to strain within an overstretched and underfunded system.
India’s Aviation Boom: Growing Faster Than Oversight?
India is now the world’s third-largest passenger aviation market. With nearly 850 aircraft in scheduled service, up from 400 just a decade ago, the industry’s growth has outpaced infrastructure and regulatory resources.
From 116 million passengers in 2014–15, the annual number has more than doubled to 239 million. The number of commercial aerodromes has also doubled, rising from around 60 to over 130.
According to Mr. Kidwai, the total aircraft fleet—scheduled and non-scheduled—is expected to exceed 2,000 by 2030. Yet, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has faced budget cuts over the past two years, raising concerns that regulatory capacity may not be keeping up with industry expansion.
“The increased flight volume means we need to reassess whether turnaround times allow for adequate maintenance checks,” said Kidwai. Ensuring safety amid such rapid growth requires not just vigilance, but also resources—both human and financial.
Public Confidence and the Long Road to Reassurance
Despite the severity of June’s crash, the DGCA chief insists that India’s air travel reputation has not taken a major hit. “We looked at the data and found no significant drop in traffic, either domestic or international,” Kidwai noted. “At most, there was a short-term dip.”
While public anxiety spikes after such high-profile disasters, he believes transparency and time will help restore confidence. “It’s natural for people to feel anxious. But over time, as more clarity emerges and investigations progress, that anxiety tends to subside. Time is a great healer.”
A System Under Pressure
India’s aviation sector stands at a critical crossroads. While statistical safety remains above global norms, recent crashes and oversight lapses show that numbers alone don’t tell the full story. The growth of air travel in India is a national achievement—but without matching investments in safety, regulation, and training, the system risks being overwhelmed.
Transparency in reporting and proactive action by the DGCA are steps in the right direction. But as tragic incidents like the June Air India crash remind us, maintaining air safety is not just about responding to failures—it’s about preventing them. For India’s skies to remain safe, the focus must shift from reactive measures to a robust culture of accountability, vigilance, and foresight.
(With agency inputs)
