DGCA Safety Audits Find No Major Lapses At Airports
- DGCA safety audits conducted after Owaisi raises concerns
- DGCA safety audits reviewed, corrective action taken
DGCA safety audits carried out at major airports across India found no major safety lapses, the government informed the Lok Sabha. The disclosure came after AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised questions on aviation safety. The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that all issues identified during the audits were addressed and formally closed. The government assured Parliament that safety oversight mechanisms are active and effective.
Replying to Unstarred Question No. 3118 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation recently conducted comprehensive safety surveillance audits. The audits covered five major airports: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Patna. The exercise reviewed safety procedures, maintenance practices, and operational compliance at these airports.
In his question, Asaduddin Owaisi sought details on whether the DGCA conducted surveillance audits at major airports. He also asked whether aircraft defects caused by procedural lapses were detected. Further, he wanted to know if any incidents occurred due to failures in safety procedures during aircraft maintenance, inspection, or runway and taxiway movement. He also questioned whether action was taken against airlines, ground handlers, or airport authorities, and what steps were planned to prevent recurrence.
Responding to these concerns, the minister informed the House that one procedural lapse was observed at Delhi airport. The issue occurred during engine maintenance on an Airbus A320 251NX aircraft with registration VT ICP. According to the official reply, the lapse involved non utilisation of the prescribed borescope inspection tool. It also involved the absence of mandatory safety tools during maintenance. The ministry clarified that this was a procedural issue and not a major safety violation.
Meanwhile, the government said no other significant defects linked to procedural lapses were reported at the other audited airports. All observations recorded during the audits were categorised as Level II findings. This classification indicated that the issues were not major or significant in nature. The DGCA forwarded these findings to the concerned organisations for compliance.
Later, the organisations implemented corrective measures and submitted Action Taken Reports to the DGCA. After reviewing these reports and finding them satisfactory, the aviation regulator formally closed all findings. Addressing future safeguards, the government said the DGCA reviewed audit findings related to ramp safety and reporting culture. These aspects were included in the Annual Surveillance Plan 2026, which provides for special audits and unplanned checks to strengthen safety oversight.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
