Aviation Safety in India: 50% of Aircraft Show Repeated Defects, Air India and IndiGo Worst Affected

New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator has revealed alarming findings in its latest audit, reporting repeated technical issues in nearly half of the aircraft inspected last year. The most affected carriers are Air India and IndiGo, raising concerns over maintenance and operational standards.

Audit Findings
According to data presented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the regulator conducted audits of 754 aircraft between January 2025 and February 3, 2026. Out of these, 377 planes exhibited recurring defects. While not all issues directly affect flight safety, the sheer frequency—nearly 50% of aircraft inspected—raises significant concern for passengers.

Airline-Specific Observations

• IndiGo: 148 aircraft reported repeated defects
• Air India: 137 aircraft
• Air India Express: 54 aircraft
• SpiceJet: 16 aircraft
• Akasa Air: 14 aircraft
• Airlines Air: 8 aircraft

In terms of total aircraft checked: IndiGo had 405 planes audited, Air India 166, Air India Express 101, SpiceJet 43, and Akasa Air 32. The Air India Group operates a total of 297 flights, while IndiGo manages 440 flights.

Types of Defects
The defects ranged from technical and maintenance-related issues to passenger cabin inconveniences, such as broken seats, malfunctioning in-flight screens, and window-related problems. The ministry noted that the number of technical issues has decreased compared to previous years: 448 defects were recorded in 2023, while only 353 were found in 2025.

Safety Concerns
Repeated malfunctions in the same aircraft, particularly in safety-critical equipment, remain a significant worry. The audit covered 3,890 surveillance inspections, 56 regulatory audits, 492 ramp checks, and 84 foreign aircraft inspections in 2025. These measures helped identify persistent issues in 377 aircraft, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring and corrective maintenance.

Government Response
While the number of defects has reduced over the past three years, the fact that every fourth Air India aircraft and every third IndiGo aircraft inspected showed repeated problems has sparked discussion on aviation safety standards and the need for stricter oversight.