Inspection flags unsafe ground ops, worn tyres

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday carried out its first comprehensive audit of multiple stakeholders in the Indian aviation sector, and flagged serious safety lapses — from aircraft being flown with worn tyres and repeated technical snags, to unserviceable ground-handling equipment and simulators that don't match aircraft configurations.

- DEEPAK PATEL

At some airports, even runway markings were found faded, and data on surrounding buildings hadn't been updated for years.

The sweeping audit comes days after the crash of Air India's AI171 flight on June 12, in which 229 passengers, 12 crew members and 34 people on the ground were killed. In response, DGCA had issued a circular on June 19, announcing a new "comprehensive special audit" mechanism aimed at breaking down the traditional silos in India's aviation safety oversight.

Two multidisciplinary teams led by DGCA joint director general conducted overnight and early morning surveillance checks at major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai.

The inspections covered key areas such as flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control (ATC), communications, pre-flight medical checks, and maintenance practices.

Some of the most concerning findings were repeated technical problems on the same aircraft, showing that issues were not being fixed properly. The DGCA called this a sign of "ineffective monitoring and inadequate rectification".