In the wake of recent aviation incidents, including the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, and a helicopter accident in Kedarnath, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is convening next week to address growing air safety concerns. The committee, chaired by JDU MP Sanjay Jha, is prioritizing a comprehensive review of safety standards, regulatory oversight, and manpower issues within the aviation sector.
The panel's meeting, scheduled for next week, comes at a time when the Indian aviation industry is under intense scrutiny. The Ahmedabad plane crash, which claimed over 240 lives, has exposed critical flaws in airport infrastructure, regulatory enforcement, and navigational safety, issues that aviation experts have long flagged.
The parliamentary committee intends to summon senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for a detailed briefing. The committee seeks to understand the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place, the technical challenges involved in ensuring air safety, and the role of pilots in critical situations. Representatives from private airlines, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) may also be called to appear before the committee. Operators of helicopter services in pilgrimage zones such as Kedarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi may also be asked to appear before the committee.
The committee's discussions are expected to extend beyond specific accidents. It aims to cover strengthening regulatory institutions, upgrading airport safety infrastructure, enhancing crash investigation protocols, and ensuring accountability of airlines and manufacturers. The panel will also look at issues such as recruitment and air safety in fragile areas like Uttarakhand.
Several factors have contributed to the heightened focus on air safety. Recent incidents, such as the near-miss of an IndiGo flight running out of fuel and instances of passengers being trapped on delayed flights due to door malfunctions, have raised concerns about the operational efficiency and safety protocols of airlines. Furthermore, data from the civil aviation ministry indicates a significant number of technical issues reported by private airlines, with IndiGo and Air India accounting for a large proportion of these incidents.
The DGCA has also come under scrutiny for being understaffed and underfunded. Reports indicate a high percentage of vacant posts within the DGCA and a substantial cut in funding for civil aviation safety infrastructure, raising concerns about the regulator's ability to effectively oversee the rapidly growing aviation sector.
Adding to the complexity, Air India has recently announced temporary reductions in its flight schedule, suspending operations on certain routes and reducing frequencies on others. The airline has cited various reasons for these adjustments, including mandatory safety inspections, regional night-time airspace curfews, and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a commercial pilot and former Union Civil Aviation Minister, is a member of the committee. His expertise is expected to be invaluable in discussions on aviation safety, particularly concerning regulatory enforcement and flight crew training.
As the Parliamentary Standing Committee prepares to delve into these critical issues, the spotlight is on the Indian aviation sector to address the identified gaps, strengthen safety measures, and restore public confidence in air travel.
