Ahmedabad Crash Highlights Parliament Panel's Urgent Warnings on Aviation Security

Aviation Crash Highlights Prior Warnings on Safety Funding

The recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad has cast a harsh light on a parliamentary committee report from March that had already flagged critical shortfalls in funding and staffing for the very agencies responsible for aviation safety and accident investigation in India. The report warned that the budgetary allocations for these key bodies were insufficient to keep pace with the country's rapidly expanding aviation market.

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The Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport, and Culture presented its report to Parliament on March 25, 2025, highlighting a significant imbalance in funding. While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was allocated Rs 30 crore for 2025-26, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) received only Rs 20 crore and Rs 15 crore, respectively. The committee deemed the combined Rs 35 crore for security and investigation capabilities inadequate for the world's third-largest aviation market.

The report noted that as India's airport network grew from 74 to 147 in under a decade, with a target of 220, the resources for safety and security must grow proportionally. This warning has gained tragic relevance as the underfunded AAIB is now tasked with investigating the Ahmedabad crash, which claimed 274 lives.

Beyond funding, the panel also raised serious concerns about manpower shortages. The report revealed vacancy rates of over 53% in the DGCA and 35% in the BCAS. These findings suggest a systemic gap between the country's aviation ambitions and the resources allocated to ensure its safety. The Ahmedabad disaster now serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of these previously highlighted deficiencies.