50 percent of planes in India found defective: Parliamentary committee report

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee report has revealed that nearly 50% of aircraft operating in the country have technical issues. Out of 754 aircraft inspected between January and February 2025, defects were found in 377. The inspections were initiated following the Ahmedabad aircraft accident to assess the operational efficiency of aeroplanes.

The highest number of defects was reported in planes operated by IndiGo. Out of 405 planes inspected, 148 were found to have issues. The situation was similar for Air India and Air India Express.

The report also referred to an audit conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Air India between July 1 and July 4, 2025, following the Ahmedabad accident. Around 100 safety lapses, including serious defects, were identified.

Total planes inspected: 754, Defective: 377
IndiGo: 405, Defective: 148
Air India: 166, Defective: 137
Air India Express: 101, Defective: 54

Pilots lack training

• Pilots of Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 lack adequate training. There is also a shortage of cabin crew.
• The DGCA issued nine show-cause notices to Air India for safety violations.
• Eight planes were found operating without valid airworthiness review certificates. Air India was fined Rs 1 crore.
• The committee also raised concerns about the capacity of the DGCA, noting a staff shortage with 48.3% of positions vacant. This could affect the rapidly growing aviation sector.