Indian airlines reported 190 technical glitches in aircraft from January 1 to July 21, 2025, according to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. This follows 421 glitches in 2024, a 6% decline from 448 in 2023, though concerns persist after the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which killed 260 people. Mohol attributed such snags to malfunctioning components, emphasizing that airlines are responsible for rectifying issues before flights. The Air India Group, including Air India Express, reported 85 glitches, IndiGo 62, Akasa Air 28, and SpiceJet 8 this year.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) enforces compliance through routine surveillance, spot checks, and night inspections, with penalties like warnings, suspensions, or fines for violations. Post-crash, the DGCA intensified inspections, particularly on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, following a fuel cut-off issue linked to the Ahmedabad tragedy.

Over 2,094 defect investigations have been conducted since 2020, aligning with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. Aviation experts on X highlight systemic pressures from short-haul flights and quick turnarounds, with a senior engineer noting, “The issue isn’t just glitches but the rush to fix them.”

Separately, Mohol revealed that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and private partners invested over Rs 96,000 crore from 2019–2025 for airport modernization, with AAI contributing Rs 25,000 crore. This includes upgrades at 162 airports, with new terminals at Delhi and Mumbai enhancing capacity. Despite safety concerns, these developments aim to bolster India’s aviation infrastructure amid growing passenger demand.

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