In the wake of the catastrophic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, India’s civil aviation regulator has uncovered serious safety lapses across major airports and issued a 7-day ultimatum to airport operators to implement urgent corrective measures. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted a special audit that flagged ineffective monitoring, poor maintenance practices, and non-compliance with safety protocols at leading hubs including Delhi and Mumbai.
The findings emerged from a comprehensive surveillance drive that began on June 19, covering key areas such as flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control, and pre-flight medical checks.
“There has been ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification action on the defects,” the DGCA stated, emphasising the need for immediate compliance to ensure passenger safety.
Damaged Equipment, Expired Systems Among Key Failures
The regulator listed a series of alarming lapses that point to a breakdown in aviation safety protocols. At one airport, obstruction limitation data had not been updated for three years, despite new construction nearby. In another case, a domestic flight was delayed due to worn-out tyres, with repairs made only after detection during inspection.
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Other critical violations found during the audit include:
- Faded centre line markings on an active runway
- Ignored aircraft maintenance work orders
- Unserviceable systems like thrust reversers and flap slat levers not being properly locked
- Tool control and maintenance store procedures left unregulated
- Technical logbooks not updated with system-generated defect reports
- Simulators not matching actual aircraft configuration, with outdated software
- Unfit ground handling equipment, including trolleys and belt loaders
Air India Also Under Fire for Systemic Failures
This regulatory action follows close on the heels of DGCA’s crackdown on Air India. Last week, three senior officials were removed over systemic failures, including violations related to pilot licensing and crew rest norms.
The regulator also issued a showcause notice to Air India after flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and 17 reportedly breached flight duty time limits, with crew flying beyond the mandated 10-hour limit.
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The ongoing audit reflects growing scrutiny of India’s aviation sector, particularly after Air India flight AI 171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 274 people.
The DGCA has mandated airport and airline operators to report compliance within seven days, warning of potential action for any further non-compliance.
