Concerns Raised Over Aviation Safety Following Recent Incidents in India

Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) expressed significant concerns regarding aviation safety during a meeting in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. This discussion was prompted by the recent crash of Air India flight AI-171 and a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which led to a sudden spike in flight fares from Srinagar to other cities. The parliamentary panel convened with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and representatives from major airlines. According to sources, several committee members voiced strong dissatisfaction over the substantial fare increases implemented by various airlines following the attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. It was noted that many MPs argued that such fare hikes violate established standards.

In response to the fare increases following the Pahalgam attack, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued advisories to airlines regarding the sudden fare hikes and requested the waiving of cancellation fees. Additionally, some members from opposition parties called for a special audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Beyond fare concerns, MPs also discussed the investigation into the Air India accident that occurred on June 12, seeking clarity from ministry officials on several key points. One MP inquired about the timeline for the examination and analysis of the aircraft's black box and whether there were any proposals for foreign experts to assist in the investigation.

The meeting included officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS), BCAS, and representatives from major airlines such as Air India, Indigo, Akasa, and SpiceJet. Another critical topic of discussion was the fatal accident of Air India flight AI-171 on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, colliding with a building of BJ Medical College, resulting in the deaths of 241 out of 242 individuals on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.