A parliamentary panel has sounded a high-level alarm regarding India’s aviation safety after a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) audit revealed systemic technical failures. Between January 2025 and February 2026, nearly half of the commercial fleet inspected was found to be operating with persistent, recurring defects.
1. The Audit Results: A Deep Dive into the Fleet
The Standing Committee on Civil Aviation noted that out of 754 aircraft inspected, 377 reported recurring technical problems. The crisis is heavily concentrated within the Air India group.
| Airline | Aircraft Audited | Aircraft with Recurring Defects | Percentage |
| Air India | 166 | 137 | 82.5% |
| Air India Express | 101 | 54 | 53.4% |
| Total Fleet | 754 | 377 | 50.0% |
2. Critical Safety Lapses Identified
The report highlighted findings from a July 2025 audit (following the Ahmedabad crash) that uncovered 100 safety lapses, including seven “Level 1” violations—the most severe category requiring immediate grounding or corrective action.
Key Operational Violations:
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Pilot Training Gaps: Deficiencies in recurrent training for long-haul Boeing 787 and 777 crews.
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Staffing Shortages: At least four international flights operated with insufficient cabin crew.
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Duty Time Violations: Cases where flight duty limits were exceeded by over two hours (e.g., Milan to New Delhi).
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Expired Equipment: Aircraft were found operating with expired emergency safety gear.
3. Penalties and Regulatory Oversight
The DGCA has issued 19 safety violation notices across the industry in late 2025, with Air India receiving nine of them.
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Financial Penalty: In February 2026, Air India was fined ₹1 crore for flying an Airbus A320 on eight separate flights without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate.
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The DGCA Crisis: The panel raised a red flag regarding the regulator itself, noting a 48.3% vacancy rate at the DGCA. This staffing shortage has led to questions about whether the agency can effectively oversee India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
4. Recommendations for Reform
The committee has called for a fundamental reset of the safety architecture, suggesting:
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Structural Reforms: Strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure stricter compliance.
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Urgent Hiring: Filling the nearly 50% vacancy at the DGCA to ensure more frequent and rigorous audits.
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Corrective Action Plans: Forcing airlines with high defect rates (like Air India) to implement transparent maintenance protocols.
Summary: The Safety Status
The report suggests that while India’s aviation sector is growing at a record pace, the maintenance and safety infrastructure is struggling to keep up, leading to a “dangerously high” rate of recurring technical snags.
