Aviation Minister begins monthly meetings with airline heads to strengthen safety

In a move to strengthen aviation safety and enhance government oversight, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has initiated a series of monthly meetings with the heads of major Indian airlines. The first of these evaluations took place on Tuesday, with top officials, including the CEOs of Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, in attendance. The new protocol is a direct response to a recent increase in safety-related incidents and is aimed at bringing "systemic accountability and proactive oversight" to the rapidly growing Indian aviation sector.

The government's increased scrutiny comes in the wake of the tragic Air India flight crash on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 260 fatalities. Since the crash, at least 15 operational issues and serious safety incidents have been reported across various Indian carriers, including emergency returns and runway excursions. The minister's monthly meetings, which will be held in the first week of every month, will require airline executives to present a report on safety and maintenance developments, ensuring strict adherence to global benchmarks and helping to restore public confidence.

In addition to the ministerial meetings, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also intensified its regulatory actions. The DGCA has conducted multiple spot checks at major airports and issued directives for mandatory inspections of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet. These comprehensive measures follow a preliminary report on the Ahmedabad crash that highlighted the fuel control switches being in the "cutoff" position, emphasizing the need for robust safety and maintenance protocols across the entire industry.