Following the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed around 270 people on June 12, India’s aviation safety regime has come under sharp focus, prompting urgent reviews by Parliament and aviation authorities. Two key committees, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, are holding meetings with aviation stakeholders this week to examine lapses and demand accountability.As per ANI, a full-day session is scheduled for Wednesday under JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha to deliberate on safety and infrastructure issues across the sector. The meeting will involve senior officials from the ministry of civil aviation, Directorate General of civil aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI), top executives from major airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, and private airport operators like the Adani and GMR groups.Sources cited by news agency PTI say that the PAC, chaired by Congress leader K C Venugopal, met on Tuesday and raised concerns about the crash, including delays in completing the black box analysis. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has already submitted a preliminary report.Apart from crash-related queries, the panel also discussed the recent surge in Srinagar airfares following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The attack killed 26 people and led to a ban on certain flights connected to Pakistan. Lawmakers also flagged the need for an audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), as per PTI.Wednesday’s meeting aims to address broader issues such as ageing infrastructure, poor emergency response systems, and outdated technology, particularly at regional airports. According to ANI, the DGCA has already initiated multiple audits of airlines and airports in response to rising incidents of technical snags, emergency landings, bomb hoax calls, and operational breaches.India’s aviation sector, which handles over 400 million passengers annually, is growing rapidly, but experts warn that infrastructure and safety oversight have not kept pace. International agencies, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), have also raised flags about India’s compliance with global safety norms.The Centre government has pledged over Rs 1 lakh crore for aviation infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. However, experts believe regulatory reforms must match this investment. Top airline CEOs, including Air India’s Campbell Wilson, attended Tuesday’s PAC meeting, which also reviewed levies, tariffs, and user charges across public infrastructure as per the Lok Sabha agenda.
