The Hindu Editorial Analysis
14 June 2025
Crash and Burn: India’s aviation sector needs to address safety concerns
(Source – The Hindu, National Edition – Page No. – 08)
Topic: GS-3 – Infrastructure (Aviation), Technology & Safety, GS-2 – Regulatory Reforms, Governance
Context
The tragic Air India AI117 Dreamliner crash on June 12, 2025, has triggered global attention on India’s civil aviation safety standards. Despite being equipped with modern technology (Boeing 787-8 with GEnx engines), the aircraft suffered a fatal loss just minutes after takeoff.
This incident raises critical concerns about India’s regulatory preparedness, the airworthiness of aircraft models, and the institutional strength of civil aviation governance.
Key Concerns Raised
1. Technical and Operational Issues
- The Boeing 787-8 is a modern aircraft, yet it has had multiple reported technical problems:
- Engine icing
- Assembly quality concerns
- Battery-related fires
- Flight control system failures (as in 2024)
- Air India’s 787 fleet was part of a legacy deal with Boeing signed during the UPA government in 2006.
2. Safety Oversight and Gaps
- India’s DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has faced scrutiny for its inspection and regulatory capacity.
- Experts cite poor load planning, ambient conditions, and crew training as possible contributing factors.
3. Governance and Ownership Transition
- The incident occurred amid Air India’s transition under the Tata Group’s leadership with Singapore Airlines as a shareholder.
- The airline is currently executing a five-year transformational roadmap, including a revamp of safety and quality controls.
Wider Implications for the Indian Aviation Sector
| Domain | Challenge | Reform Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Technology & Airworthiness | Design-level technical glitches in advanced aircraft | Collaborate with manufacturers; strengthen MRO norms |
| Regulation | Weak enforcement by DGCA, delays in audits | Autonomy and modernization of regulatory bodies |
| Safety Protocols | Inconsistent SOPs, lack of whistleblower safeguards | Industry-wide SOPs; third-party independent audits |
| Public Trust | Incidents erode passenger confidence | Improve safety transparency and timely disclosures |
| Training & Crew Readiness | Human error due to insufficient simulator or emergency preparedness | Mandatory scenario-based recurrent training |
Global Context
- The FAA (USA) and EASA (EU) have long implemented independent oversight systems that ensure a separation between airline operations and safety regulators.
- India must emulate such frameworks to maintain credibility in global air safety indices.
Recommendations and Way Forward
- Independent Civil Aviation Safety Board:
- To investigate crashes transparently and recommend structural reforms.
- Publicly Auditable Safety Records:
- Airlines must maintain a public dashboard of compliance with safety and maintenance norms.
- Domestic R&D for Aerospace Engineering:
- Reduce overdependence on imported aircraft and integrate indigenous avionics and diagnostics.
- Empowered DGCA:
- Enhance staff, digitize inspection processes, and align with ICAO standards.
- Learning from Past Accidents:
- Institutionalize learnings from recent crashes (e.g., Kozhikode runway overrun, Nepal-bound flights) into training manuals.
Conclusion
India’s aspiration to become a global aviation hub must be backed by zero-tolerance safety regimes, transparent audits, and institutional integrity in aviation governance. Profitability cannot override passenger safety. As the industry expands, air safety must be the takeoff point, not an afterthought.