New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revealed significant safety violations at major airports in India, including New Delhi and Mumbai, in a comprehensive safety audit carried out in the aftermath of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
Conducted between June 20 and 21, the DGCA sent two teams, under the Joint Director General, to conduct night and early morning surveillance of flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, and air traffic control at peak hours. One example that emerged from the DGCA’s survey was the cancellation of a domestic flight due to worn-out tires. Only after replacing the tyres did the aircraft take off. The aircraft was on the verge of disaster, with the possibility of wheels becoming stuck on the runway.
The DGCA report stated, “Multiple cases indicated that reported defects were recurring, which demonstrates a poor rectification process.” Defects on aircraft include defective ground handling and bags not cleared from the compartments. Moreover, thrust reversers and flap slats levers were not secured, ground handling trolleys were not serviceable, tool control was not followed, and there was time-consuming taxiing.
One airport’s faded runway markings became visible at another, posing a serious risk to flight operations. Also, the taxiway lighting and ground light were not aligned, and there was no update of obstructions limitation data in three years despite development around the airport. Some ramp vehicles lacked speed governors, leading to the cancellation of their driving permits and authorisations. The improper tying of life vests and the presence of corrosion-resistant tape on the lower blade of the winglet put some flights at risk.
Moreover, the flight simulators were outdated, and their latest software was incompatible with the current aircraft. It resulted in “doubtful reliability in flight simulator training”.
The DGCA has given airlines, airport operators, and others seven days to address the shortcomings. If they don’t, the DGCA will impose a penalty or revoke the licence. “All the findings have been communicated to the concerned operators for the necessary action,” the DGCA added” “Thereafter, DGCA will continue surveillance for the elimination of such unsafe practices in the future,” the DGCA further said.
The DGCA initiated a “360-degree” audit framework after the crash of Air India’s Airbus A321 aircraft in Ahmedabad that killed over 270 people. DGCA will inspect Kolkata and Hyderabad airports from June 25 to look into the maintenance, operations, and airline practices. “The non-compliance with audit findings will attract serious consequences, including financial penalties,” a senior DGCA official told The Hindu.
In a recent development, Jet Airways suffered a setback with its 20 aircraft grounded and over 500 employees losing their jobs.
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