DGCA defends air safety after Air India crash, SpiceJet snags

Following the recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed at least 260 lives, questions about the safety of India’s skies are once again being raised. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now responded to concerns surrounding pilot preparedness, maintenance lapses, and the effectiveness of oversight in India’s expanding aviation sector.

DGCA says India performs better than global safety average

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, head of the DGCA, said India’s safety record remains strong. “India's skies have always been safe—in the past and even today,” he said in an interview with the BBC. Citing International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) data, Kidwai noted that accident rates per million flights in India are generally lower than the global average, with only two years between 2010 and 2024 exceeding that benchmark due to major accidents.

India has seen three major commercial crashes in the last 15 years: in Mangalore (2010), Kozhikode (2020), and now Ahmedabad (2025). While these accidents are rare, the Air India tragedy has reignited concerns about broader safety practices across airlines.

SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India under scanner for lapses

A report by The Economic Times revealed that SpiceJet was pulled up by the DGCA after two Q400 aircraft experienced premature propeller failures. Dowty Propellers, a UK-based manufacturer, reportedly alerted the regulator after identifying damage to the internal bearings. Instead of addressing the root issue, the airline allegedly kept applying grease to the unit. This led to an audit in April, where more deficiencies were uncovered.

Kidwai confirmed action was taken. “We ensured SpiceJet took corrective measures. Some senior management members who were supposed to oversee compliance were removed or suspended,” he said.

Air India Express was also reprimanded earlier this year for delays in replacing engine parts and allegedly falsifying records. The airline acknowledged the lapse and took remedial steps. “The report came through self-reporting by the airline,” Kidwai added.

In May, IndiGo faced turbulence-related issues on a Delhi–Srinagar flight. Severe updrafts and downdrafts caused cabin damage, leading to an emergency landing. No injuries occurred, but pilots were grounded pending investigation. The DGCA has since refined turbulence response guidelines.

Rising snag reports, reduced budget and expanding fleet

Between 2020 and early 2025, Indian airlines reported 2,461 technical faults. IndiGo accounted for over half (1,288), followed by SpiceJet (633), and Air India and its subsidiary (389). “Reporting of snags by airlines has gone up. This is good,” Kidwai said. “It’s better to report every issue than to hide it.”

He added that regulators are now examining whether the quick turnaround time between flights is adequate for proper maintenance checks.

India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly. In 2014–15, 116 million passengers flew across the country. That number has now doubled to 239 million. The country’s aircraft fleet has also grown—nearly 850 aircraft are currently operated by scheduled carriers, up from 400 a decade ago. Including non-scheduled operators, the total count stands at 1,288 aircraft. This is expected to exceed 2,000 by the end of the decade.

Preliminary report into Air India flight 171 crash has one of the pilots asking the other why he "did the cutoff" (literally turned off the engines during takeoff).

Can't make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/BRI8gXtrnr

— captive dreamer (@avaricum777) July 11, 2025

However, this growth comes at a cost. The civil aviation ministry has seen budget cuts over the past two years, even as regulatory demands have increased.

Impact of crash on passenger confidence and flight operations

Despite the severity of the Air India crash, Kidwai said there has been no significant drop in passenger traffic. “We observed a very marginal dip for a short period in both domestic and international flights. But it recovered quickly,” he said.

He acknowledged public anxiety following such accidents but maintained that transparency, better regulations, and time would help restore confidence. “It’s natural for people to feel anxious. But time is a great healer.”

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