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Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
DGCA finds 263 safety lapses in audits of various airlines; assures flyers that higher lapse count ‘entirely normal' for large carriers
Aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found 263 safety-related lapses across various operators in their annual audits, but underscored that that higher number of lapses—particularly in the case of airlines with extensive networks and large aircraft fleets—is 'entirely normal' given the breadth and depth of their operations rather than any unusual lapse. The regulator also reassured flyers that the audits and consequent corrective action by airlines are robust processes and the presence of such findings is a 'testament to active regulatory oversight'. 'The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as part of its continuous oversight responsibilities, conducts audits that are an essential instrument to identify and use them for potential improvements. Based on ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) requirements and global best practices, these audits are needed to enhance the safety of operations and ensure compliance, and continuous improvement across all facets of airline operations. These audits findings aid in areas requiring improvement. This is as per Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) under Safety Oversight Programme,' the DGCA said in a release. Some of the audits happened close to the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, but were not related to the disaster in which 260 persons perished. According to data released by the regulator on Wednesday, government-owned regional airline Alliance Air topped the list with 57 lapses, followed by Air India with 51 findings, regional airline Star Air with 41 findings, cargo airline QuickJet with 35 findings, Air India Express with 25 findings, IndiGo with 23 findings, Vistara—now merged with Air India—with 17 lapses, and SpiceJet with 14 lapses. Akasa Air's audit process is yet to be completed, it is understood. The lapses have been categorised into level one and level two findings. Of the total 263 findings, 19 were categorised as level one findings, or relatively more serious lapses. Vistara, Air India, and Air India Express had 10, seven, and two level one findings, respectively. 'It should be emphasized that, for airlines with extensive operations and large fleet sizes, a higher number of audit findings is entirely normal. The quantum and scale of their activities mean that such observations reflect the breadth and depth of their operations rather than any unusual lapse. Globally, aviation regulators routinely encounter similar patterns with major carriers due to the diversity and intensity of their undertakings,' the regulator said. IndiGo is the country's largest airline, with a domestic market share of around 65 per cent, followed by the Air India group—Air India and Air India Express, with a share of around 30 per cent. In the medium- and long-haul international segment, Air India is the country's biggest airline, as IndiGo has very limited presence in that segment. Upon completion of the audit, the relevant airlines are formally notified and are required to submit timely compliance and corrective action taken reports to the DGCA. The regulator closely monitors these responses and ensures that all necessary measures are taken to maintain and enhance safety standards. 'The DGCA reassures the travelling public that these processes are robust and that the presence of such findings is a testament to active regulatory oversight. Our commitment to safety, transparency, and continuous improvement remains paramount across the Indian aviation industry,' the regulator said.
News18
5 hours ago
- Business
- News18
IndiGo Adds More Flights To Amsterdam, Manchester & 9 Indian Cities From Hindon
IndiGo has started operations from Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, becoming the second airline to operate there after Air India Express. IndiGo airlines on Wednesday opened bookings for increased flight frequencies for recently launched long-haul routes connecting Mumbai with Amsterdam and Manchester, as per a release. Starting September 20, 2025, the airlines will fly six times per week between Mumbai and Amsterdam, and will increase their service on October 13 onwards. Additionally, flights between Mumbai and Manchester will be enhanced to four times weekly, in effect from September 22, 2025. The airlines also look forward to receiving five additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in the ongoing financial year, the first of which is expected to be received by mid-September and shall enable the airline to bolster its service on these routes, the release further stated. A week earlier, Union Civil Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu launched new flight routes from Ghaziabad's Hindon Airport to be operated by IndiGo. After Air India Express, IndiGo becomes the second airline to mark its presence in Hindon Airport. Four months ago, Air India Express started its operations here. 'This is a (Udan) success of Hindon, Ghaziabad, western Uttar Pradesh, and the entire country. This is an Udan of the ambitions and aspirations of common Indians," the Union minister said from the Hindon Airport. Airlines fleet, airports, terminal capacity, and flyers have doubled in India over the past decade, the minister said, reflecting the growth India's civil aviation sector has made. 'During 2024-2034, civil aviation in tier II and III cities will grow and we will have to unlock the potential. Hindon will serve as an example," the minister said. With operations from both Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Hindon Airport (HDO), flyers based out of the National Capital Region will be served by these two airports. The Hindon Airport's development work was taken up in 2019 under UDAN at Rs 50 crore, in collaboration with Indian Air Force, Minister Naidu said in his address. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
Air India Express Flight Fails To Take Off From Hindon Airport, Reports Technical Snag
Last Updated: The airline has provided guests with options, including hotel accommodation, complimentary rescheduling, or cancellation with a full refund. An Air India Express flight on Sunday failed to take off from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad following a technical issue and subsequent watch hour limitations at the airport, an Air India Express Spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that the flight will depart once the airport is available for commercial operations in the morning. The airline has provided guests with options, including hotel accommodation, complimentary rescheduling, or cancellation with a full refund. 'One of our flights from Hindon is operating with a delay, as it could not take off following a technical issue and subsequent watch hour limitations at the airport. The flight will depart once the airport is available for commercial operations in the morning. We have provided guests with options including hotel accommodation, complimentary rescheduling, or cancellation with a full refund," the spokesperson added. Further details are awaited. Meanwhile, on July 23, an Air India Express flight (IX375) from Kozhikode to Doha returned to its origin shortly after takeoff due to a technical issue. Flight IX375, a Boeing 737-86N was scheduled to depart Kozhikode at 08:50 AM and arrive in Doha by 10:50 AM. The aircraft took off slightly behind schedule at 09:17 AM but was diverted back to Kozhikode shortly after departure. It was diverted to Calicut International Airport in Kozhikode, as per Flightradar24. view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 10:40 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Air India Express flight aborts takeoff from Delhi airport; second time this week
NEW DELHI: An Air India Express pilot abruptly halted the flight when it was about to take-off from the Delhi airport to Mumbai on Wednesday (July 23) night and returned to the parking bay. This marks the second time this week that a flight from the stable of the Air India Group aborted take-off at the last minute – an Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata had done it on Monday. Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India. IX 1163, an Airbus A320 model, was scheduled to take off from Terminal 3 around 9:30 pm when the incident occurred. Passengers were deplaned and sent by an alternative flight three hours later. According to a passenger, 'The flight came to a sudden and hard stop before it returned to the bay. It looked like a major mishap had been averted. There was a lack of clear communication from the crew to the passengers, causing much anxiety,' he added. Video and pics shared online about the incident showed passengers worried inside the aircraft and later alighting from the plane. An official statement from Air India Express said, 'The crew of one of our flights from Delhi elected to reject take-off prioritising safety following a manor technical issue. Guests were de-boarded and accommodated in an alternative aircraft which was arranged on priority and has since departed.' The statement added, 'We regret the inconvenience while reiterating that safety remains paramount in all our operations.'
Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Air India Jaipur-Mumbai flight makes U-turn 18 mins after take-off: What went wrong
An Air India flight from Jaipur to Mumbai made an emergency return shortly after takeoff on Friday. Flight AI612 returned to Jaipur International Airport due to a 'suspected technical issue', officials confirmed. The aircraft was airborne for about 18 minutes before returning to Jaipur. "Flight AI612 operating from Jaipur to Mumbai returned to Jaipur shortly after take-off due to a suspected technical issue,' Air India said in a statement. Airline officials confirmed that the decision to return was made as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety. Air India further emphasised that passenger safety is the airline's top priority. This swift action aligns with standard aviation safety protocols when potential issues are detected, PTI reported. Upon landing, the aircraft was thoroughly checked for any potential issues. Air India further revealed that 'troubleshooting checks were carried out, and it was determined to be a false indication'. Following the thorough inspection, the aircraft was cleared for operations. Once the protocols were fulfilled, the flight departed from Jaipur and continued its journey to Mumbai, the news agency reported. This comes just two days after a Doha-bound Air India Express flight was forced to return to Calicut International Airport on Wednesday morning, approximately two hours after its departure, owing to a technical fault in the aircraft's cabin AC. According to official data, a total of five Indian airlines reported 183 technical defects in their aircraft to the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) this year until July 21. Air India and Air India Express together have reported 85 technical defects, respectively, the data shows.
