Aviation regulator finds major safety lapses in airport surveillance

A nationwide safety audit by India's aviation regulator has uncovered serious lapses, including recurring aircraft defects, poor maintenance practices, unserviceable ground equipment, and safety violations at several major airports, following the deadly Air India crash on 12 June.

- Daanish Anand

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out a comprehensive surveillance at major airports across the country, including the Delhi and Mumbai international airports, to assess and strengthen safety measures.

The surveillance on late Monday and early Tuesday covered aspects such as flight operations, airworthiness, ramp safety, air traffic control (ATC), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems and pre-flight medical evaluations.

"Throughout the surveillance, ground activities and aircraft movements were closely monitored to check the compliance of regulatory requirements and to identify weak areas for improvement," said DGCA in a statement.