Amid rising concerns over air safety after a tragic Air India crash in June, the question lingered: How safe are India's skies? The crash, which claimed at least 270 lives, heightened scrutiny of India's aviation sector, which has seen passenger traffic double since 2014. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), assured that India's aviation safety records exceed the global average.
"We've had just two years with accidents above average from 2010 to 2024," he stated. However, incidents such as severe turbulence on a Delhi-Srinagar flight have raised alarm. Investigations have revealed several lapses, particularly with airlines like SpiceJet.
The DGCA has been proactive, tackling issues such as propeller failures and falsified maintenance records. Yet, the influx of reported technical faults—over 2,400 since 2020—highlights the ongoing challenges and strains on the sector, especially in light of a 350% increase in flight numbers within a decade.
Despite the growing demand for air travel in India, officials stress COnditioning for future safety and improvement remains essential. Kidwai optimistically noted that the public's anxiety after incidents tends to diminish over time, recognizing the importance of transparency and ongoing improvements in aviation standards.
