Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny: Parliament Grills DGCA, Airlines After Crash

A parliamentary committee, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, convened a critical day-long meeting on Wednesday to probe aviation safety standards, with the recent Ahmedabad plane crash casting a long shadow over the proceedings. Representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airport Authority of India, and private airlines, including Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, faced tough questions on compliance and safety protocols.

The meeting follows a tragic June 12 crash, where a London-bound Air India flight slammed into a hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 onboard and several on the ground. One passenger miraculously survived. The disaster has intensified scrutiny on the aviation sector.

Committee members expressed alarm over staffing shortages at the DGCA and its failure to implement prior recommendations, sources said. The discussions also built on Tuesday’s Public Accounts Committee meeting, which addressed both safety concerns and surging air ticket prices seen during the Maha Kumbh and after a recent Pahalgam terror attack. The DGCA pledged to introduce measures to curb fare spikes.

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As stakeholders presented their plans to bolster safety, the committee emphasized accountability and urgent reforms. With public confidence shaken, the aviation sector faces mounting pressure to address vacancies, enforce stricter oversight, and prevent future tragedies, ensuring safer skies for all.

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