Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said inspections conducted by aviation authorities revealed that 377 aircraft out of 754 examined had repeated technical faults. These defects were categorised as “recurring” because the same issues resurfaced even after earlier rectification.
The inspections covered six scheduled airlines operating in India. Among them, the Air India Group reported the highest proportion of recurring defects. Of the 267 aircraft inspected in its fleet, 191 — about 72 per cent — were found to have repeat technical issues. IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier, had 405 aircraft examined, with 148 aircraft flagged for recurring defects as of February 3.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation safety regulator, carried out the inspections as part of an expanded surveillance programme. Mohol told the House that during the review period the DGCA conducted 3,890 surveillance inspections, 56 audits, and 492 ramp checks. In addition, 874 spot checks and 550 night surveillance operations were carried out to ensure compliance with safety norms. Eighty-four foreign aircraft were also inspected during this period.
Responding to the data placed before Parliament, Air India said the defects flagged in its aircraft were largely non-critical and did not compromise flight safety. In a statement, the airline said most of the issues identified fall under Category D, the lowest priority classification for aircraft defects. These typically include non-essential components such as passenger seats, tray tables, cabin panels and in-flight entertainment systems.
A senior airline executive explained that aircraft defects are classified into four categories — A, B, C and D — based on urgency and impact on operations. Category D defects, while required to be rectified within prescribed timelines, do not affect the airworthiness of the aircraft. Air India said it is addressing these issues through an ongoing retrofit programme for its narrow-body fleet, expected to be completed over the next two years.
The disclosure comes at a time when India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly, with airlines adding capacity to meet rising passenger demand. Major carriers operating in the country include IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express, Vistara (currently merging with Air India), SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Alliance Air.
Separately, the government also informed Parliament that 2,645 posts remain vacant across key aviation bodies, including the Airports Authority of India, the DGCA, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority, raising concerns about regulatory capacity amid growing operational complexity.
