New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will conduct 15% more safety checks this year, taking the total to 4,630 inspections compared to 4,027 in 2024, sources told NDTV on Monday.
The intensified monitoring comes in the wake of the June 12 Air India tragedy in Ahmedabad, where a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed minutes after take-off, killing 260 people on board and on the ground.
According to officials, the additional checks will cover aircraft maintenance practices, pilot competence, and airport safety protocols. The move follows a DGCA surveillance drive on June 24, which flagged a series of worrying lapses across airlines and airports.
Among the findings were:
• Aircraft defects reappearing repeatedly despite repairs.
• Life vests not properly secured under seats.
• A domestic flight held up due to worn-out tyres.
• A simulator that did not match actual aircraft configuration.
• Maintenance work orders not being properly followed.
• Faded runway markings and malfunctioning taxiway lights.
• Obstruction data not updated for three years, despite new construction near airports.
• Ground handling equipment like baggage trolleys being unserviceable.
• Multiple vehicles on the ramp area found without speed governors.
In one case, defect reports generated by an aircraft system were not entered in the technical logbook. Inspectors also found damaged corrosion-resistant tape on a winglet of an aircraft.
While the DGCA did not publicly name the airlines, maintenance agencies, or airports involved, its statement underscored that ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification were recurring issues.
With India’s aviation sector witnessing rapid growth, officials said the additional checks were aimed at ensuring that safety standards are not compromised.
