Air India : Question mark on passenger safety? Shocking information in Parliament about technical faults in 7 out of 10 Air India planes
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Shocking information regarding the technical safety of Air India group's aircraft has come to light, sparking renewed discussion on the safety of air travel in the country. According to official statistics presented in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muralidhar Mohol on Thursday, seven out of every ten aircraft in the Air India group have been found to have recurring technical defects. This information has also caused a stir in Parliament.
According to the statistics presented by the government, inspections conducted since January 2025 have revealed that out of a total of 267 aircraft in the Air India group, as many as 191 aircraft have repeatedly experienced technical failures. This includes 137 out of 166 aircraft in Air India's main fleet and 54 out of 101 aircraft in Air India Express. According to these statistics, it is clear that Air India ranks first among Indian airlines in terms of technical defects.
After this serious data, Air India has presented its side. Senior officials of Air India stated that these technical glitches are not directly related to passenger safety. The equipment in aircraft is classified into four categories: A, B, C, and D. They clarified that most of the technical issues in Air India fall under 'Category D'. This category includes errors related to passenger amenities such as broken seats, tray tables not opening properly, and in-flight entertainment screens not working. The company claims that this does not affect the aircraft's flight capability or safety.
Additionally, Air India has assured that all these issues will be gradually resolved by implementing a large-scale 'retrofit program' over the next two years. After the Tata Group took over Air India, there has been a focus on the renewal of aircraft, and the company has stated that the modernization of old aircraft is underway.
Meanwhile, not only Air India but other Indian airlines have also encountered technical faults. Among Indigo's 405 aircraft, which is the largest airline in the country, technical defects have been recorded in 148 aircraft. Repeated technical failures have been found in 16 out of 43 SpiceJet aircraft and 14 out of 32 Akasa Air aircraft.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has become vigilant to ensure the safety of air travel remains intact. In the past year, DGCA has conducted as many as 3,890 surveillance inspections and 56 regulatory audits. Additionally, the government has informed the parliament that the number of technical positions has been increased from 637 to 1063 to strengthen the regulatory mechanism. In this context, it is being speculated that stricter rules may be implemented for passenger safety in the future.
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