The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday revealed multiple deficiencies across India’s aviation ecosystem following a comprehensive safety surveillance at major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai. The inspection comes in the wake of the fatal Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed 270 lives.
The DGCA teams, led by Joint Director General-level officers, conducted checks during night and early morning hours to assess critical aspects such as flight operations, aircraft airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control, navigation systems and pre-flight medical evaluations.
The watchdog found several recurring defects on aircraft, pointing to ineffective monitoring and inadequate maintenance. One domestic flight was delayed due to worn tyres and was cleared for takeoff only after necessary repairs.
In another concerning lapse, centre line markings on the runway were found to be faded, raising potential safety risks during takeoff and landing. Additionally, the regulator flagged that a flight simulator did not match the aircraft’s configuration and its software was outdated.
While the DGCA did not name specific airlines or entities, it confirmed that all findings have been communicated to those responsible, with instructions to implement corrective actions within seven days.