Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Civil Aviation's response to questions regarding defects reported by airlines, investigations, compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), passenger complaints, and measures to strengthen safety standards. It covers data from 2021 to July 21, 2025, and outlines DGCA's regulatory oversight and actions taken to ensure aviation safety. The data regarding defects and complaints are attached as Annexure A and B respectively.
Key Points / Main Content:
Defect Reporting and Investigation:
Airlines are required to report all technical defects to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
All reported defects must be investigated for appropriate rectification action.
Major defects must be investigated expeditiously by the operator in association with the DGCA, to facilitate preventive/corrective action.
Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement:
DGCA has comprehensive regulations (CAR) mandating aircraft maintenance per manufacturer and DGCA guidelines.
Airlines must rectify all technical issues before releasing an aircraft for flight, ensuring continuous airworthiness.
DGCA conducts surveillance, spot checks, and night surveillance to ensure regulatory compliance. Findings are communicated to airlines for corrective action.
Safety Enhancement Measures:
Post-accident, DGCA enhanced checks and inspections of critical safety components to address systemic issues.
DGCA continuously reviews and updates its surveillance methodology based on risk assessment, operator performance, fleet performance, and global best practices from EASA and FAA.
Data on Defects and Complaints:
Annexure A provides details of technical defects reported by scheduled commercial airlines from 2021 to July 21, 2025.
Annexure B details the number of passenger complaints received by DGCA from 2021 to July 14, 2025.
Impact Analysis:
Airlines:
Impact: Required to report and rectify all technical defects, maintain aircraft airworthiness, and comply with DGCA regulations. Subject to surveillance and inspections.
Action Required: Ensure adherence to CAR, rectify defects promptly, cooperate with DGCA investigations, and implement corrective actions based on surveillance findings.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):
Impact: Responsible for investigating reported defects, enforcing regulations, conducting surveillance, and updating safety standards.
Action Required: Conduct thorough investigations of reported defects, enforce CAR regulations, perform regular surveillance and inspections, and continuously update safety protocols.
Passengers:
Impact: Affected by the safety standards and defect rectification processes of airlines and the oversight of DGCA.
Action Required: File complaints with DGCA regarding grievances related to air travel.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation in India.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulatory body for civil aviation in India, responsible for safety oversight and enforcement of regulations.
Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR): A set of regulatory requirements and standards issued by the DGCA that airlines and other aviation stakeholders must comply with.
Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Alliance Air: An Indian regional airline.
Indigo: A major Indian airline.
Spicejet: An Indian low-cost airline.
Air India: A major Indian airline.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 740
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
DEFECTS REPORTED BY AIRLINES
740. SHRI ANTO ANTONY
SHRI K SUDHAKAR
ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH
SMT JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the number of defects reported and recorded for commercial
airlines operating in India since 2021-22, year-wise;
(b) the total number of defects reported and recorded for
commercial airlines since 2021-22, category-wise;
(c) the total number of investigations conducted by an appropriate
authority with regard to such defects since 2021-22, year-wise;
(d) whether any airlines have failed to comply with Civil Aviation
Requirements (CAR) including provisions for recording, reporting,
investigating or rectifying defects and if so, the action taken
thereon;
(e) the total number of passenger complaints filed with the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) since 2021-22, year-
wise; and
(f) the details of the steps/measures taken by the Government to
strengthen and enforce safety standards in light of the recent
aviation tragedy?
ANSWERMinister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): Details of technical defects in aircraft reported since 2021
to 2025 (till 21.07.2025) are attached at Annexure A.;
;
All defects reported by the airline to Directorate General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA) are required to be investigated for taking
appropriate rectification action. The investigation of all defects
particularly major defects has to be completed expeditiously so as
to take preventive/corrective action at the earliest possible. The
major defect will be investigated by the operator in association with
DGCA.;
;
(d): DGCA has comprehensive regulations under Civil Aviation
Requirements (CAR) which requires that the aircraft is maintained
in accordance with the manufacturer and DGCA guidelines and all
technical issues reported on the aircraft are rectified before the
aircraft is released for flight. Under the system, airlines are required
to ensure that the aircraft are maintained in a continuous state of
airworthiness and all technical issues are rectified. DGCA has
developed mechanism of conducting surveillance, spot checks,
night surveillance etc. of the airlines/ organizations and personnel
to ensure all regulatory requirements are complied with to ensure
safety of passenger and aircraft. The observations/ findings made
during surveillance, spot checks and night surveillance are provided
to the airline for taking corrective action.;
;
(e): Details are attached at Annexure B.;
;
(f): Post-accident, DGCA enhanced the check and inspection of the
critical component of safety assurance in order to identify and
rectify immediate systemic issues. DGCA continuously reviews and
updates its surveillance methodology based on risk assessment,
operator performance, fleet performance and global best practices
such as the guidelines issued by European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).;
******Annexure A
Technical defects reported to DGCA involving scheduled commercial airlines (2021-
2025 (Till 21 July)
S/N AIRLINES 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
(Till 21
July)
1. M/s Alliance Air 04 03 07 51 00
2. M/s Indigo 179 215 246 46 62
3. M/s Spicejet 170 143 47 23 08
4. M/s Tata Sia Airlines Ltd (Vistara) 85 97 79 44 -
5. M/s Air India Ltd (Air India + Air India 76 64 63 253 85 (61 –
Express) Air India
Express)
6. M/s Akasa Air - 06 06 04 28
TOTAL 514 528 448 421 183Annexure B
Passenger Complaints received in DGCA since 2021
Year 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 till 14th
July
Total 4131 3783 5513 4016 3925
number of
grievances
received