Parliament Question: Strengthening of Safety Protocols at Airports

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. : 553 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2nd April 2026 ) STRENGTHENING OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS AT AIRPORTS 553. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of fire-related incidents at various airports in the country, including those occurring during aircraft maintenance operations, incidents involving flammable chemicals at Mumbai airport and ignition of a bitumen-laden truck at Bengaluru airport and if so, the details thereof; (b) the measures taken, in coordination with airport operators, oil companies and other stakeholders to strengthen safety standards at aviation fuel stations and ensure regular safety audits and training of staff at Airports including Rajkot Airport; and (c) the details of initiatives undertaken to upgrade electrical safety systems, first-aid facilities and firefighting infrastructure at Rajkot as well as other airports in Gujarat? ANSWER Minister of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu) (a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ******STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (C) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 553 FOR REPLY ON 02.04.2026 REGARDING STRENGTHENING OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS AT AIRPORTS ASKED BY SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA; ; (a) All fire-related incidents at airports are reported, investigated and addressed by the respective airport operators in accordance with the applicable norms and standards prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Due cognizance has been taken of all fire-related incidents reported at Mumbai airport by the airport operator, including minor incidents during aircraft maintenance activities and isolated incidents involving flammable chemicals. These incidents were promptly controlled with timely intervention of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) services followed by response from city Fire Brigade in a timely manner, which re-assures robust firefighting mechanisms in place. The incident regarding ignition of bitumen-laden truck at Bengaluru Airport occurred on land-side of the airport and had no impact on aircraft operations or maintenance activities. The incident was investigated by the state authorities and the recommendations have been implemented by the airport operator and all such works are closely monitored in order to avoid recurrence. (b) & (c): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued the necessary safety precautions and fire prevention measures to be followed during aircraft maintenance and related fuel and oil storage activities. These measures, inter alia, include the proper storage and handling of flammable materials, provision of adequate firefighting equipment, and the conduct of periodic safety inspections. Further, the approval of Aviation Fuel stations by the DGCA entails verification of all prescribed safety requirements as per the applicable Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 2, Series E, Part VI, including adequacy of safety equipment and training of personnel. All concerned organizations are required to adhere strictly to these guidelines. Aerodrome licensing mandates compliance by aerodrome operators with the regulatory requirements prescribed under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 4, Series B, Part I. Maintenance of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) system is required to be carried out in accordance with the category of aircraft operations. The ARFF system comprises extinguishing media, crash fire tenders, and trained manpower etc. The prescribed performance standards of the ARFF system are required to be maintained at all times and are ensured through surveillance inspections conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).; ; Airports Authority of India Fire Services has provided requisitelevel of Fire protection and First aid facilities as per the ARFF Category at AAI airports including Rajkot. *****