Is air travel not safe? What DGCA audit reveals about safety of aircrafts?
Airline Audit Report: Following the Ahmedabad plane crash and the Baramati aircraft accident that resulted in Ajit Pawar's death, there are fears that air travel is not safe. Now, a report has emerged that will amplify this fear. An audit by India's aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found defects in half of the aircraft inspected. Air India is in the worst condition, with three out of every four aircraft inspected showing recurring problems.
IndiGo's situation is not much better, with some kind of problem found in every third aircraft. This information was provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation itself in the Lok Sabha. However, these problems include not only safety-related issues but also general maintenance problems. Nevertheless, the fact that 50% of the aircraft have problems is certainly a cause for concern.
According to the information provided to the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aviation regulator audited 754 aircraft, and recurring defects were found in 377 of them. The regulator conducted this inspection between January 2025 and February 3, 2026. However, the ministry is somewhat relieved that these defects have decreased compared to previous years.
However, the defects listed in the aviation industry are not solely related to aircraft safety. A large number of deficiencies are also related to the passenger cabin. These include broken seats, non-functional flight screens, or problems with windows.