**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 3091 in Lok Sabha, addressed to the Minister of Civil Aviation, concerning breaches of airline safety procedures. The answer, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, details the number of safety violations, flight engine shutdowns, measures taken by the DGCA to ensure safety, and compensation provisions. The original question was scheduled to be answered on December 18, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Safety Violations (2024):**
* There were 22 safety violations reported by scheduled Indian airlines.
* **In-Flight Engine Shutdowns (2024):**
* There were 21 in-flight engine shutdown occurrences reported by scheduled Indian airlines.
* Each occurrence is investigated to determine the cause and prevent recurrence.
* **DGCA Safety Initiatives:**
* The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established comprehensive Civil Aviation Regulations.
* These regulations are continuously updated and aligned with international standards, including those of ICAO and EASA.
* DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework, including planned and unplanned surveillance, regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* DGCA takes enforcement action as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual in case of violation.
* **Passenger Compensation:**
* Payment of compensation for death or bodily injury due to air accidents is governed by the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
* The liability of payment of compensation lies with the airline (carrier).
**Impact Analysis**
**Airlines (Carriers)**
* **Impact:** Airlines are responsible for ensuring adherence to DGCA regulations to avoid safety violations. They are liable for compensation payments to passengers or their families in case of death or bodily injury caused by air accidents.
* **Action Required:** Airlines must ensure compliance with Civil Aviation Regulations, implement robust safety procedures, and handle compensation claims as per the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
**Passengers**
* **Impact:** Passengers are affected by the safety measures implemented by airlines and the DGCA, as well as the compensation provisions in case of accidents.
* **Action Required:** Passengers should be aware of their rights regarding safety and compensation, and report any safety concerns to the relevant authorities.
**Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**
* **Impact:** DGCA is responsible for enforcing safety regulations, conducting surveillance and audits, and ensuring the safe operation and maintenance of aircraft.
* **Action Required:** DGCA must continue to update and enforce Civil Aviation Regulations, conduct regular surveillance and audits, and take enforcement action against airlines for violations.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulator that has established comprehensive Civil Aviation Regulations to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of aircraft and enforces these regulations.
Carriage by Air Act, 1972: Governs the payment of compensation to passengers or their families in case of death or bodily injury caused by air accident/incident.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The ministry responsible for matters related to airline safety.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3091
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18th December 2025 )
BREACH OF AIRLINE SAFETY PROCEDURES
3091. MD ABU TAHER KHAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of cases of breach of safety procedures by airline operators reported during the last
year;
(b) the details of the cases of flight engine failures reported during the last year along with the action
taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to ensure that procedures for safety of
passengers are followed at all times; and
(d) the details of pending and paid compensation to passengers or their families on account of breach
of safety procedures by operators during the last year?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): The number of the safety violations by scheduled Indian airlines reported during the year 2024 is
22.
;
(b): The number of in-flight engine shutdown occurrences to scheduled Indian airlines reported during
the year 2024 is 21. All the occurrences are investigated to find the cause and prevent the recurrence.
;
(c): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established comprehensive Civil Aviation
Regulations to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of aircraft. These regulations are
continuously updated and aligned with international standards, including those of International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).;
;
Further, DGCA has a structured surveillance and audit framework in place i.e. planned and unplanned
surveillance of organization /aircraft, which includes regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night
surveillance and ramp inspections across all operators, including continuous oversight of maintenance
practices. In case there is a violation, DGCA takes enforcement action as per its Enforcement Policy
and Procedure Manual.;
;
(d): Payment of compensation to the passengers or next of kin in case of death or bodily injury to the
passenger, caused by air accident/incident, is governed by the provisions of Carriage by Air Act,
1972. The liability of payment of compensation lies with the airline (carrier).
******