Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 27: A Parliamentary panel has raised serious concerns over aviation safety in India, revealing that nearly 50 per cent of commercial aircraft audited over the past year had recurring technical defects.

According to the report by the Standing Committee on Civil Aviation, 377 out of 754 aircraft inspected between January 2025 and February 2026 showed repeated technical issues, prompting calls for a “fundamental reset” of the country’s aviation safety framework.

Among carriers, IndiGo recorded the highest number of aircraft reviewed, with 148 out of 405 planes found to have recurring defects.

A significant number of issues were also flagged in Air India and Air India Express. Of the 166 Air India aircraft inspected, 137 had repeated defects, while 54 out of 101 aircraft in Air India Express fleet showed persistent issues. The panel noted that nearly half of all defects were concentrated in these two carriers.

The report also referred to an audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted after the Ahmedabad crash that claimed 270 lives. Around 100 safety lapses were identified, including seven serious violations requiring immediate corrective action.

The panel highlighted issues such as:

• Training gaps among pilots operating Boeing 787 and Boeing 777

• Inadequate cabin crew on international flights

• Breaches of flight duty time norms

• Instances of unauthorised cockpit access

In one case, a Milan–New Delhi flight exceeded permissible duty time by over two hours.

The DGCA issued multiple notices to airlines, with Air India alone receiving nine show-cause notices. In a major penalty, the regulator fined the airline around Rs 1 crore in February 2026 for operating an Airbus A320 without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate.

The panel also expressed concern over a 48.3 per cent vacancy rate within the DGCA, warning that staffing shortages could hamper effective oversight of the fast-growing aviation sector.

Emphasising the need for immediate action, the Committee called for stronger enforcement, improved oversight mechanisms, and enhanced institutional capacity to address systemic gaps and ensure passenger safety.