The Crossbill News Desk
The Congress on Monday (June 16) accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of negligence over aviation safety, demanding an explanation for what it termed a lack of action despite prior warnings from a parliamentary committee.
The party’s criticism comes in the wake of the recent air disaster in Ahmedabad, in which an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 passengers and 29 people on the ground.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh pointed to a media report highlighting that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had flagged serious concerns over civil aviation safety in a report tabled in the Rajya Sabha on March 25.
“The Modi government's negligence in not prioritizing safety in the aviation sector is worrying. Media reports clearly show that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are facing a huge shortage of officers and personnel,” Ramesh said in a post on X in Hindi.
Quoting figures from the committee’s findings, Ramesh asked, “53% of posts are vacant in the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), 35% of posts are vacant in the BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security), 17% of posts are vacant in the AAI (Airports Authority of India). How will safe flights be ensured when key departments related to aviation safety, inspection, regulation, and operations are functioning with less than half the required staff?”
While awaiting the official investigation report into the June 12 crash, Ramesh questioned the government’s inaction even after a parliamentary panel had raised red flags.
“We are waiting for the investigation report on the air crash in Ahmedabad, but the lack of action despite the parliamentary committee’s report is a serious matter. We demand that the government clarify the situation and take the necessary steps on this,” he said.
The tragic incident occurred when an Air India Dreamliner carrying 242 people to London crashed into the campus of a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm. Only one passenger survived. Among those killed on the ground were 29 people, including five medical students.
The party’s criticism comes in the wake of the recent air disaster in Ahmedabad, in which an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 passengers and 29 people on the ground.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh pointed to a media report highlighting that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had flagged serious concerns over civil aviation safety in a report tabled in the Rajya Sabha on March 25.
“The Modi government's negligence in not prioritizing safety in the aviation sector is worrying. Media reports clearly show that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are facing a huge shortage of officers and personnel,” Ramesh said in a post on X in Hindi.
उड्डयन क्षेत्र में सुरक्षा को मोदी सरकार द्वारा प्राथमिकता न देने की लापरवाही चिंताजनक है।
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2025
मीडिया रिपोर्टों से स्पष्ट है कि नागरिक उड्डयन महानिदेशालय (DGCA), नागरिक उड्डयन सुरक्षा ब्यूरो (BCAS) और भारतीय विमानपत्तन प्राधिकरण (AAI) में अधिकारियों और कर्मियों की भारी कमी है।
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Quoting figures from the committee’s findings, Ramesh asked, “53% of posts are vacant in the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), 35% of posts are vacant in the BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security), 17% of posts are vacant in the AAI (Airports Authority of India). How will safe flights be ensured when key departments related to aviation safety, inspection, regulation, and operations are functioning with less than half the required staff?”
While awaiting the official investigation report into the June 12 crash, Ramesh questioned the government’s inaction even after a parliamentary panel had raised red flags.
“We are waiting for the investigation report on the air crash in Ahmedabad, but the lack of action despite the parliamentary committee’s report is a serious matter. We demand that the government clarify the situation and take the necessary steps on this,” he said.
The tragic incident occurred when an Air India Dreamliner carrying 242 people to London crashed into the campus of a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm. Only one passenger survived. Among those killed on the ground were 29 people, including five medical students.
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