A parliamentary committee on transport is set to convene a meeting, likely in the first week of July, to address growing concerns surrounding aviation safety, summoning Boeing executives, airline representatives, and government officials. This decision follows a series of incidents and persistent worries about aircraft maintenance, prompting a comprehensive review of the current safety protocols and practices within the civil aviation sector.
The parliamentary panel's move reflects increasing unease among officials regarding the safety of air travel. The committee, led by JDU MP Sanjay Jha, is prioritizing a discussion on safety standards and regulatory oversight in civil aviation in light of recent emergency landing in Ahmedabad and the fatal helicopter crash in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath. The panel is likely 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.
Several incidents have heightened scrutiny on aviation safety. These include a recent Air India flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, 2025, which killed 242 onboard. While investigations are underway, these events have raised broader questions about standard operating procedures, technical preparedness, and pilot protocols. The committee aims to understand the SOPs in place, the technical challenges involved, and the role of pilots in ensuring passenger safety.
Boeing's aircraft, in particular, have come under the spotlight due to a series of safety-related issues. The Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed a total of 346 people due to a faulty AOA sensor and most recently Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which suffered a door blow-out mid-flight. The FAA conducted an audit on Boeing's production facilities and discovered numerous issues in production and storing of parts, the FAA forced Boeing to correct their mistakes and restricted them from expanding their 737 MAX production. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has also faced scrutiny, with past incidents involving battery fires and concerns about manufacturing flaws.
Boeing has been working to address these issues and improve its safety culture. Kelly Ortberg, appointed as CEO in August 2024, has vowed to revitalize the company's focus on engineering and safety. Boeing released its 2025 Chief Aerospace Safety Officer report, highlighting progress since the Alaska Airlines incident in January 2024. The company has reinforced its alert systems, enhanced the "Speak Up" messaging system for employees to report concerns, and increased safety training for its workforce.
The parliamentary committee is also expected to address the issue of understaffing in key aviation bodies. A recent report highlighted significant vacancy rates in the DGCA, BCAS, and AAI, raising concerns about the ability of these institutions to effectively implement safety, security, and operational standards. The committee is likely to push for expediting the recruitment process to fill these vacancies and ensure that regulatory oversight and airport operations are not compromised.
The upcoming meeting will likely involve detailed questioning of key stakeholders, including representatives from private airlines, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The committee may also call upon operators of helicopter services in pilgrimage zones to discuss safety measures in difficult terrain.
The panel's deliberations are expected to focus on preventive mechanisms, weather-related flight protocols, helicopter safety, and the enforcement of penalties for operational violations. The goal is to identify shortcomings in the existing system and recommend corrective measures to enhance aviation safety and restore public confidence in air travel.
