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Saturday, March 7, 2026
TopicAviation safety

Topic: Aviation safety

House panel flags 50% staff gap in DGCA, urges whistleblower protection & autonomy for aviation watchdog

Report on review of safety in India’s civil aviation sector tabled in Parliament also recommends specialised recruitment mechanism for DGCA & time-bound resolution of safety gaps.

‘Mayday’ protocol to navigating weather, inside the challenging job of an air traffic controller

In an interview, air traffic controller reveals how it’s minute-to-minute work that demands total focus for hours at a stretch. ‘It’s about responsibility without visibility’.

Waiting for closure on AI 171 crash, India is still flying blind on aviation safety

The crash report due next week may not be conclusive, but the spate of diversions, emergency landings, and narrow escapes over the past month has brought the need to improve aviation safety front and centre.

Why do airplanes still crash?

In 2024, the DGCA proposed new Flight Duty Time Limitation norms to align with global practices. However, under pressure from airlines, implementation was postponed indefinitely.

Why Italian jets escorted Delhi-bound American Airlines plane diverted to Rome after ‘bomb threat’

Italian Air Force intercepted Boeing plane carrying 199 passengers plus crew as part of 24x7 national airspace surveillance, integrated with NATO air defence system. The jets were armed.

Changes in night duty, longer weekly rest period — new DGCA rules seek to reduce pilot, crew fatigue

Directorate General of Civil Aviation also plans to adopt a new regime called Fatigue Risk Management System. Changes, announced Monday, need to be implemented by operators by 1 June.

Metal fatigue caused fan blade to break loose, led to United’s Boeing 777 engine failure

United Airlines' Denver-Hawaii flight, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, had suffered a mid-air engine failure, resulting in 5 airlines around the world grounding Boeing 777 fleet.

Despite Sriwijaya Air crash, Indonesia’s air safety is improving fast

An aviation law passed by the country in 2009 has gradually been getting results — accident rates were below the global average in 2018 & 2019, lower even than in the US and the EU.

Mother of dead Indian pilot criticises Boeing, US FAA for ‘rushing’ 737 Max return

Sangeeta Suneja, whose son flew Lion Air plane that plunged into sea in 2018, criticised Boeing for returning Max 737 to the skies before a 3rd sensor to measure air speed is added.

On Camera

A ship attack has shaken Asia’s faith in the US

Why should the US care? Because in the end, as its wrangle with Britain this week should have reminded them, America still needs bases, friendly ports, & overfly rights.

Amid the new war in Middle East, ‘God’ surfaces in oil and commodities contracts

Multiple companies have invoked the principle of ‘force majeure’, which lets a party off the hook in case of unforeseen ‘acts of God’, to avoid penalties.

Iranian naval ship Lavan with crew of 184 docked in Kochi same day US torpedoed IRIS Dena

IRIS Lavan was in the region for the International Fleet Review held last month and ‘sought urgent docking in Kochi citing technical issues,’ it is learnt.

Trump brings the Age of Humiliation for friends. Modi needs stoicism abroad, humility at home

Trump has ushered in the age of humiliation. His method is to push around America’s friends rudely and publicly. He knows none of them can afford to fight back.