Committee on air safety flags non-implementation of past regulatory recommendations
According to sources, the members also intended to seek updates on the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary findings and whether they would be made public soon.The Standing Committee, chaired by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, convened with the stated agenda of "an overall review of civil aviation sector safety", but the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad took centre stage during discussions.The crash involved flight AI 171, which slammed into the BJ Medical College hostel building just seconds after take-off, killing 260 people - 241 passengers and crew onboard, and 19 on the ground.While Wednesday's meeting focused on oversight and systemic issues, air safety had already become a contentious issue during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on Tuesday. Though originally intended to address airport levy charges, the PAC session turned into a charged discussion on aviation safety post-AI 171.Sources said PAC members pressed aviation authorities about oversight gaps, urged an audit by BCAS, and raised questions over increasing safety incidents in May and June. Lawmakers also flagged a surge in airfares following the Pahalgam terror attack as another sign of regulatory failure.Air India CEO Wilson Campbell, along with top MoCA, DGCA, AERA, AAI and BCAS officials, attended the PAC meeting and defended the Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash. Air India stated the aircraft was among the safest in the world, with over 1,000 Dreamliners currently in operation globally.Speaking after the PAC meeting, former Civil Aviation Minister and PAC member Praful Patel highlighted a shortage of skilled senior personnel at DGCA and recommended that retired officials be brought back on short tenures to plug the gap."Safety is paramount. Anyone who flies wants to be safe and assured that they will reach their destination. Many events took place in the wake of the Air India crash. Obviously, when a crash happens, everything is taken with sensitivity," Patel said.He added, "Indian aviation is safe, and we don't need to panic. All airlines, including Air India, follow all safety protocols. DGCA is well equipped and does a very good job. However, DGCA needs to have more people. It is facing a shortage of staff at the top level, of skilled people. Retired officials can be brought back to deal with this understaffing and ensure safety standards are fully compliant at the earliest. Maybe an audit of the entire sector or all the aircraft should be done at the earliest so that passenger confidence is restored."- EndsMust Watch
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