India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has released the results of its annual inspections for the year 2025. According to the report, a total of 263 safety violations were identified across various airlines operating in the country.
The inspections were carried out in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and global best practices. The DGCA noted that a higher number of findings among airlines with larger fleets was to be expected.
Air India and IndiGo at the Top of the List
According to DGCA data, 23 safety violations were detected at IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, while Air India, ranked second, recorded 51 violations. Notable issues at Air India included:
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Gaps in pilot training
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Use of unapproved simulators
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Inadequate flight scheduling systems
The DGCA specifically stated that these findings were not related to last month’s Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives.
Status of Other Airlines
The DGCA also identified the following safety deficiencies at other carriers:
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SpiceJet: 14
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Vistara (a subsidiary of Air India): 17
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Air India Express: 25
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Akasa Air: Yet to be audited
The identified deficiencies were categorised into two levels:
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Level I: Critical violations
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Level II: Other non-conformities
The DGCA reported a total of 19 Level I violations but did not disclose specific details.
DGCA: “Corrective Measures Underway”
In its statement, the DGCA announced that relevant notifications had been issued to the respective airlines and that corrective action plans had been implemented to address the deficiencies.
The authority emphasised the importance of such regular inspections in enhancing passenger safety, identifying systemic weaknesses at an early stage, and ensuring compliance with international aviation safety standards.
