Faded runway markings to simulator mismatches: DGCA flags widespread safety lapses in airlines & airports

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has said that it has found multiple safety lapses across airline operations, airport infrastructure, and simulator training, in a recent surveillance conducted by it at major airports including those in Mumbai and Delhi.

In a report released Tuesday, the aviation watchdog said the findings raise concerns about ineffective defect monitoring, procedural violations, and outdated data across the system. DGCA has instructed concerned operators to implement necessary corrective actions within seven days. Surveillance activities, it added, will continue to identify and eliminate safety hazards across the aviation ecosystem.

This round of inspections comes shortly after the fatal crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 and a series of recent in-flight technical failures, which have brought India’s aviation safety standards under public and regulatory scrutiny.

Here're the key findings by DGCA

• DGCA’s inspection revealed several aircraft defects reappearing repeatedly, indicating that earlier faults had not been adequately rectified.
• Ground equipment such as baggage trolleys and BFL units were found unserviceable.
• Maintenance documentation was incomplete, safety precautions were bypassed, and critical components such as the thrust reverser system and flap slat lever were not properly secured.
• Defect reports from aircraft systems were not logged, and several life vests were found unsecured beneath seats. In one case, corrosion-resistant tape on a winglet’s lower blade was damaged.
• At an airport, the centre line marking of the runway was faded, and green lights on rapid exit taxiways were not unidirectional.
• Obstruction limitation data had not been updated in over three years, despite nearby construction activity.
• Several ramp vehicles lacked speed governors and were withdrawn following permit cancellations and driver suspensions.
• The DGCA found that a simulator used for training did not match actual aircraft configuration and was running outdated software.
• In a separate incident, a scheduled domestic flight was delayed due to worn tyres, and was cleared only after repairs.