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Indian Aviation Safety: Concerns & Consequences - UPSC Editorials
IMPORTANT LINKS
Analysis based on |
Editorial Incidents on loop, but its escape for regulator, airlines published in The Indian Express on December 30th, 2024 |
Topics for UPSC Prelims |
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Air Traffic Control (ATC) |
Topics for UPSC Mains |
Aviation Safety |
Safety Concerns in the Indian Aviation industry
The Indian aviation industry faces critical safety concerns that pose significant risks to passengers, crew, and overall operational integrity. Key issues include regulatory oversight, training standards, and adherence to international safety norms.
- Recurring runway confusion incidents (landing/taking off from wrong runways/taxiways)
- Poor regulatory oversight by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the regulatory body that primarily deals with safety issues
- Tendency to blame pilots while ignoring systemic issues
- Non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards on investigation procedures post any serious incidents.
- Inadequate flight and duty time regulations leading to overworked staff Ex: Pressure on pilots to operate beyond flight time limits
- Poor training standards in airlines leading to capability shortcomings in pilots & staff.Ex: Lack of knowledge about runway markings among pilots
- Failure to learn from past incidents
- Inadequate safety audits by DGCA and Airport Authority of India
- Poor rest periods for flight crew
- Lack of accountability of airlines and regulators
- Failure to take proactive corrective measures
- Poor implementation of Civil Aviation Safety Advisory Council recommendations
Read the article on CORSIA and LTAG!
Consequences of such Safety Lapses
The consequences of these safety lapses are significant and wide-ranging, affecting various aspects of the aviation industry and public perception.
- Compromised passenger safety
- Loss of lives. Ex: 179 lives lost in Mangaluru and Kozhikode crashes
- Financial losses due to aircraft damage
- Operational inefficiencies
- Strain on flight crew leading to increased risk of accidents due to fatigue
- Poor safety culture development
- Reduced confidence in Indian aviation sector
- Damage to India's reputation in international aviation
Read the article on the Indian National Airways!
Chronological List of Indian Aviation Accidents and Incidents
Date
Description
Casualties
Survivors
June 12, 2025
Air India passenger plane crash in Gujarat – details currently unknown.
Unknown
Unknown
April 2, 2025
IAF Jaguar fighter jet crashes during training near Jamnagar Air Force Station.
1
1
June 3, 2019
IAF An-32 crashed in Arunachal Pradesh hilly terrain after contact loss.
13
0
Aug 7, 2020
Air India Express Flight 1344 (Dubai–Kozhikode) overshot Calicut runway and broke apart.
18
172
July 22, 2016
IAF An-32 went missing over Bay of Bengal.
29
0
May 22, 2010
Air India Express Flight 812 (Dubai–Mangalore) overshot runway, fell into a gorge.
158
8
July 17, 2000
Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashed into the Patna residential area due to a stall on approach.
60 (55+5)
–
Dec 24, 1999
IC-814 was hijacked to Kandahar by terrorists; one passenger killed, 192 survived.
1
192
Nov 12, 1996
Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision between Saudi and Kazakh planes; deadliest mid-air crash in history.
349
0
Apr 26, 1993
IC-491 crashed into a truck while taking off from Aurangabad.
55
–
Apr 24, 1993
IC-427 hijacked; hijacker killed after security stormed the plane in Amritsar.
1
140
Apr 10, 1993
IC Boeing 737 hijacked by four students with minor weapons; all passengers safe.
0
59
Mar 27, 1993
IC-439 hijacked en route to Madras; the hijacker surrendered in Amritsar.
0
203
Jan 22, 1993
IC-810 hijacked over Babri Masjid demands; surrendered after negotiations.
0
54
Aug 16, 1991
IC-257 crashed on descent into Imphal due to pilot error.
69
0
Feb 14, 1990
IC-605 crashed during approach to Bangalore; pilot error.
92
–
Oct 19, 1988
IC-113 crashed near Ahmedabad during final approach.
130
–
Aug 14, 1984
IC-421 hijacked to UAE by Sikh militants; passengers later released.
0
74
July 5, 1984
IC-405 hijacked to Lahore by Khalistan supporters; surrendered.
0
264
Aug 20, 1982
Sikh militant hijacked Jodhpur–Delhi flight; killed by security.
1
68
Aug 4, 1982
IC Delhi–Amritsar hijacked by militants with a fake bomb; overpowered.
0
All
Jun 21, 1982
Air India Flight 403 crashed at Bombay in heavy weather.
17
94
Nov 26, 1981
AI Flight 224 hijacked in Seychelles by fleeing mercenaries; passengers released.
0
78
Sep 29, 1981
IC-423 hijacked to Lahore by Sikh extremists; no casualties.
0
117
Dec 20, 1978
IC-410 hijacked to protest Indira Gandhi’s arrest; later politically rewarded.
0
132
Jan 1, 1978
Air India Flight 855 crashed off Bombay coast after instrument failure.
213
0
Oct 12, 1976
IC-171 crashed at Bombay after uncontained engine fire.
95
0
Sep 10, 1976
IC hijacked by Kashmiri militants, plane landed in Lahore, hijackers drugged.
0
83
May 31, 1973
IC-440 crashed on approach to Palam Airport.
48
17
Sep 24, 1972
Japan Airlines Flight 472 landed at the wrong airport, overran the runway.
0
122
Jun 14, 1972
Japan Airlines Flight 471 crashed near Palam Airport; disagreement over cause.
85 (82+3)
5
Jan 30, 1971
IC hijacked to Lahore; passengers released, plane destroyed.
0
32
Sep 19, 1965
Civilian Beechcraft shot down by Pakistan Air Force over Gujarat.
8
0
Jul 28, 1963
US Flight 869 crashed off Bombay due to turbulence and weather.
63
0
Jul 7, 1962
Alitalia Flight 771 crashed near Mumbai due to navigation error.
94
0
May 25, 1958
Dan-Air Avro York crash in Gurgaon after in-flight fire.
4
1
Jul 12, 1949
KLM Lockheed crashed near Ghatkobar during approach in bad weather.
45
0
Aug 14, 1943
Tata Airlines plane crashed near Lonavala; 6 killed.
6
0
Mar 7, 1938
Air France Potez 62 crashed outside Datia due to in-flight fire.
7
0
Date |
Description |
Casualties |
Survivors |
June 12, 2025 |
Air India passenger plane crash in Gujarat – details currently unknown. |
Unknown |
Unknown |
April 2, 2025 |
IAF Jaguar fighter jet crashes during training near Jamnagar Air Force Station. |
1 |
1 |
June 3, 2019 |
IAF An-32 crashed in Arunachal Pradesh hilly terrain after contact loss. |
13 |
0 |
Aug 7, 2020 |
Air India Express Flight 1344 (Dubai–Kozhikode) overshot Calicut runway and broke apart. |
18 |
172 |
July 22, 2016 |
IAF An-32 went missing over Bay of Bengal. |
29 |
0 |
May 22, 2010 |
Air India Express Flight 812 (Dubai–Mangalore) overshot runway, fell into a gorge. |
158 |
8 |
July 17, 2000 |
Alliance Air Flight 7412 crashed into the Patna residential area due to a stall on approach. |
60 (55+5) |
– |
Dec 24, 1999 |
IC-814 was hijacked to Kandahar by terrorists; one passenger killed, 192 survived. |
1 |
192 |
Nov 12, 1996 |
Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision between Saudi and Kazakh planes; deadliest mid-air crash in history. |
349 |
0 |
Apr 26, 1993 |
IC-491 crashed into a truck while taking off from Aurangabad. |
55 |
– |
Apr 24, 1993 |
IC-427 hijacked; hijacker killed after security stormed the plane in Amritsar. |
1 |
140 |
Apr 10, 1993 |
IC Boeing 737 hijacked by four students with minor weapons; all passengers safe. |
0 |
59 |
Mar 27, 1993 |
IC-439 hijacked en route to Madras; the hijacker surrendered in Amritsar. |
0 |
203 |
Jan 22, 1993 |
IC-810 hijacked over Babri Masjid demands; surrendered after negotiations. |
0 |
54 |
Aug 16, 1991 |
IC-257 crashed on descent into Imphal due to pilot error. |
69 |
0 |
Feb 14, 1990 |
IC-605 crashed during approach to Bangalore; pilot error. |
92 |
– |
Oct 19, 1988 |
IC-113 crashed near Ahmedabad during final approach. |
130 |
– |
Aug 14, 1984 |
IC-421 hijacked to UAE by Sikh militants; passengers later released. |
0 |
74 |
July 5, 1984 |
IC-405 hijacked to Lahore by Khalistan supporters; surrendered. |
0 |
264 |
Aug 20, 1982 |
Sikh militant hijacked Jodhpur–Delhi flight; killed by security. |
1 |
68 |
Aug 4, 1982 |
IC Delhi–Amritsar hijacked by militants with a fake bomb; overpowered. |
0 |
All |
Jun 21, 1982 |
Air India Flight 403 crashed at Bombay in heavy weather. |
17 |
94 |
Nov 26, 1981 |
AI Flight 224 hijacked in Seychelles by fleeing mercenaries; passengers released. |
0 |
78 |
Sep 29, 1981 |
IC-423 hijacked to Lahore by Sikh extremists; no casualties. |
0 |
117 |
Dec 20, 1978 |
IC-410 hijacked to protest Indira Gandhi’s arrest; later politically rewarded. |
0 |
132 |
Jan 1, 1978 |
Air India Flight 855 crashed off Bombay coast after instrument failure. |
213 |
0 |
Oct 12, 1976 |
IC-171 crashed at Bombay after uncontained engine fire. |
95 |
0 |
Sep 10, 1976 |
IC hijacked by Kashmiri militants, plane landed in Lahore, hijackers drugged. |
0 |
83 |
May 31, 1973 |
IC-440 crashed on approach to Palam Airport. |
48 |
17 |
Sep 24, 1972 |
Japan Airlines Flight 472 landed at the wrong airport, overran the runway. |
0 |
122 |
Jun 14, 1972 |
Japan Airlines Flight 471 crashed near Palam Airport; disagreement over cause. |
85 (82+3) |
5 |
Jan 30, 1971 |
IC hijacked to Lahore; passengers released, plane destroyed. |
0 |
32 |
Sep 19, 1965 |
Civilian Beechcraft shot down by Pakistan Air Force over Gujarat. |
8 |
0 |
Jul 28, 1963 |
US Flight 869 crashed off Bombay due to turbulence and weather. |
63 |
0 |
Jul 7, 1962 |
Alitalia Flight 771 crashed near Mumbai due to navigation error. |
94 |
0 |
May 25, 1958 |
Dan-Air Avro York crash in Gurgaon after in-flight fire. |
4 |
1 |
Jul 12, 1949 |
KLM Lockheed crashed near Ghatkobar during approach in bad weather. |
45 |
0 |
Aug 14, 1943 |
Tata Airlines plane crashed near Lonavala; 6 killed. |
6 |
0 |
Mar 7, 1938 |
Air France Potez 62 crashed outside Datia due to in-flight fire. |
7 |
0 |
Deadliest Indian Aviation Incidents
- Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision (1996) – 349 dead (worst mid-air crash globally)
- Air India Flight 855 (1978) – 213 dead
- Air India Express 812 (2010) – 158 dead
- IC-113 Ahmedabad crash (1988) – 130 dead
- Alliance Air 7412 crash (2000) – 60+ dead
Way Forward
Addressing these safety concerns requires a comprehensive and proactive approach, involving all stakeholders in the aviation industry. Specific measures include:
- Learn from international best practices (like Singapore's example)
- Strengthen DGCA's regulatory framework Ex: Implement stricter oversight of training programs
- Implement strict compliance with ICAO standards
- Improve training standards for pilots
- Reform flight and duty time regulations Ex: Reduce pressure on crews work timings.
- Strengthen safety audit mechanisms and Improve investigation procedures
- Develop better accountability systems for airlines and regulators
- Reform regulatory bodies to ensure independence
- Create better mechanisms for implementing safety recommendation
Read the article on the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016!
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UPSC Practice Question
Despite being one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, India's airline safety record has raised concerns due to recurring incidents. Critically examine the systemic issues plaguing Indian aviation safety and suggest measures to align it with international standards. (150 words, 10 marks)