Parliament told 377 of 754 aircraft had recurring technical issues
A recent safety audit by India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has found repetitive technical defects in 377 aircraft out of 754 examined across Indian scheduled airlines between January 2025 and February 3, 2026. The figures were shared in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, putting a spotlight on how India’s rapidly growing aviation sector is coping with safety and maintenance demands.
The checks covered major carriers including IndiGo, Air India and others. While the DGCA has not reported a systemic threat to air safety, the high proportion of aircraft with repeated snags has raised understandable concern among passengers.
What exactly did DGCA check?
The DGCA analysed technical snag reports and maintenance records for aircraft operated by Indian airlines. The goal was to identify:
- Repetitive defects – issues that reappear on the same aircraft or across fleets despite earlier rectification.
- Patterns in system failures – for example, recurring faults in engines, avionics, or cabin systems.
- Compliance with maintenance schedules prescribed by manufacturers and aviation regulators.
Out of 754 aircraft studied, 377 were flagged for recurring issues. These can range from relatively minor but repeated glitches to more serious defects that require deeper investigation and corrective action.
How serious is this for passenger safety?
On its own, the number does not mean that 50% of aircraft are unsafe or unfit to fly. Modern commercial aircraft generate detailed technical logs, and any snag—large or small—is recorded. A “repetitive defect” in DGCA language can include issues that are caught and fixed well before they pose a direct safety risk.
However, the findings are still important because they:
- Highlight stress on maintenance systems in a fast-growing aviation market.
- Signal that some operators may be relying too heavily on short-term fixes instead of addressing root causes of recurring faults.
- Give DGCA a basis to tighten oversight on airlines and specific fleets where patterns of snags are high.
India’s airlines operate under strict airworthiness rules: aircraft with unresolved safety-critical defects are not allowed to depart. The DGCA also has the power to ground individual aircraft or even parts of a fleet if it finds serious non-compliance.
What actions is DGCA taking?
Based on the audit and parliamentary reply, the regulator has initiated or directed several follow-up steps:
- Targeted inspections of airlines and specific aircraft types that showed a higher number of repetitive defects.
- Closer scrutiny of maintenance practices, including how quickly snags are rectified and whether root-cause analysis is being done.
- Corrective action plans that airlines must submit and implement, with timelines, to reduce recurring faults.
Where needed, DGCA can also issue airworthiness directives in line with global regulators and aircraft manufacturers, requiring mandatory checks or part replacements.
What this means for frequent flyers
For passengers, the audit is a reminder that:
- India’s aviation system is actively monitoring safety through data, not just reacting to incidents.
- Reported technical snags are part of a preventive safety net—aircraft are designed to detect and log even minor issues, which then trigger maintenance.
- At the same time, a high level of recurring faults should push airlines to invest more in engineering staff, spare parts and turnaround maintenance quality, not just more aircraft and routes.
If you are flying, practical steps remain the same: choose airlines with a strong on-time and safety track record, pay attention to crew briefings, and know that regulators do have the authority to intervene if an operator falls short.
The bigger picture
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, with airlines placing large orders for new aircraft and expanding into tier-2 and tier-3 cities. As fleets and flight frequencies grow, maintenance and safety oversight must keep pace. The latest DGCA audit and its findings in Parliament are a nudge in that direction: transparent numbers, clear acknowledgement of recurring defects, and a signal that regulators are tracking them.
Ultimately, how airlines respond—by strengthening engineering teams, improving spare-part availability, and investing in long-term fixes—will determine whether future audits show fewer repetitive defects and higher passenger confidence.
References
- Lok Sabha reply on DGCA audit of airline fleets and repetitive defects (February 2026)
- Coverage of DGCA findings in major business and aviation news outlets
- DGCA airworthiness and safety circulars on operator maintenance obligations
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