New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has flagged multiple safety violations across key Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, following a series of surprise audits conducted since June 19.
The aviation watchdog found that Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) at multiple stations failed to follow mandated safety protocols, skipped rectification of reported snags, and in some cases did not adhere to work orders as prescribed in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM).
The audits also revealed serious gaps in basic airside safety practices. At one of the airports, runway centre line markings were found to be faded, potentially compromising aircraft guidance during landing and taxiing. Several baggage trollies and ground support vehicles were found unserviceable, while many airside vehicles lacked speed governors and were promptly withdrawn from service.
The DGCA also raised alarm over outdated flight simulators used in pilot training. At least one simulator was found to be running outdated software that did not match the configuration of the aircraft it was meant to represent. This mismatch, the regulator warned, could undermine training effectiveness and safety preparedness.
The inspections were part of a wider surveillance drive following the June 12 Ahmedabad crash that claimed over 250 lives. As part of the findings, all involved operators and airport stakeholders have been given a seven-day deadline to initiate corrective action.
Entities must also submit a detailed Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to the DGCA within 15 days. Non-compliance could attract financial penalties or even suspension of operating licences, the regulator cautioned. More special audits are likely to follow, especially where persistent safety violations or operational disruptions are observed.
