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For the millions of passengers who take to the skies over India each year, the invisible framework of aviation safety is paramount. While incidents make headlines, the systematic work of regulators and operators to maintain rigorous standards often goes unseen. A recent parliamentary disclosure has provided a rare, quantified look into the safety performance of India’s scheduled airlines and the robust oversight mechanisms in place.

On December 18, 2025, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, provided specific answers in the Lok Sabha regarding breaches of airline safety procedures. The response offers a clear snapshot of reported incidents, regulatory actions, and the legal framework governing passenger safety and compensation.

The Numbers: Safety Violations and Engine Shutdowns in 2024

The Ministry provided precise figures for the calendar year 2024, offering a baseline for understanding the operational challenges within the rapidly growing sector:

• Reported Safety Violations: A total of 22 cases of safety procedure breaches by scheduled Indian airlines were formally reported. This category encompasses deviations from established operational, maintenance, or crew protocols designed to ensure safe flight.
• In-Flight Engine Shutdowns: There were 21 reported occurrences of in-flight engine shutdowns. The Ministry emphasized that each such event is thoroughly investigated to determine the root cause and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence. These shutdowns are serious incidents but are standard safety procedures where pilots secure a malfunctioning engine and continue flight safely on the remaining engine(s).

The Guardian: DGCA’s Multi-Layered Safety Oversight Framework

The Ministry highlighted the proactive and structured role of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in upholding safety. Its approach is multi-faceted:

1. Robust and Evolving Regulations: The DGCA maintains comprehensive Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) that govern all aspects of flight operations and aircraft maintenance. These are continuously updated and aligned with global best practices from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
2. Active Surveillance and Audits: Compliance is ensured through a dynamic oversight system that includes:
   • Planned and Unplanned Surveillance: Regular audits are supplemented by surprise spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections of aircraft and airline facilities.
   • Continuous Monitoring: Special focus is maintained on airline maintenance practices to ensure aircraft remain in peak condition.
   • Strict Enforcement: When violations are identified, the DGCA takes corrective and punitive enforcement actions as per its established Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.

Passenger Compensation: A Clearly Defined Legal Pathway

In addressing compensation for incidents stemming from safety breaches, the government clarified the established legal protocol:

• Governing Law: Compensation for death or bodily injury due to an air accident is strictly governed by the Carriage by Air Act, 1972.
• Liability: The primary financial and legal liability for compensation lies with the airline (the carrier) involved, not with the government regulator.
• Process: The answer indicates that compensation cases are handled directly between affected passengers (or their families) and the airlines based on the provisions of the law. The DGCA’s role is to ensure safety compliance, while the judicial system adjudicates claims.

What This Means for the Flying Public and Industry Observers

1. Transparency and Accountability: The publication of specific figures (22 violations, 21 engine shutdowns) demonstrates a move towards greater transparency in aviation safety oversight, allowing the public to be better informed.
2. Systemic Strength Over Isolated Incidents: The focus on the DGCA’s structured surveillance framework is crucial. It shows that safety is managed not just by reacting to incidents but through a continuous, preventive cycle of regulation, audit, and enforcement.
3. Clarity on Redressal: For passengers, the clarification on compensation underscores that airlines are directly accountable under the law. In the unfortunate event of an accident, the legal path for claiming damages is well-defined through the Carriage by Air Act.
4. Context for Aspirants: For students and professionals considering careers in aviation safety, air traffic control, or aircraft maintenance, this statement highlights a sector where regulatory rigor, technological investigation, and systematic oversight are paramount and actively evolving.

The Lok Sabha response reinforces that Indian aviation safety is managed through a closed-loop system: incidents are tracked and investigated, regulations are updated based on findings, and compliance is verified through constant oversight—a cycle dedicated to ensuring that safety remains the non-negotiable foundation of civil aviation in India.

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Disclaimer: This analysis is based on the official answer provided in the Lok Sabha on December 18, 2025. Safety data and regulatory procedures are subject to change. For the most current aviation safety regulations, audit reports, or passenger rights information, please refer to the official website of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).