DGCA Analysis Reveals Half of India's Fleet, Including Air India, Has Recurring Defects

The Indian government has revealed a significant finding on recurring technical lapses across the country’s commercial fleet.

Data presented to the Lok Sabha showed that 50% of aircraft analyzed had repetitive defects. The India's civil aviation ministry conducted a review of 754 aircraft from six scheduled airlines. This analysis covered the period from January 2025 to early February 2026. This high rate of Indian airline fleet defects raises questions about maintenance and airline safety standards.

Key Findings from the DGCA Analysis

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) oversees all safety monitoring activities. The analysis found 377 aircraft out of 754 reviewed had recurring problems. This means one out of every two planes checked was flagged for repeat issues. The data highlights major challenges for the country's largest carriers, Air India and IndiGo.

Airline-Specific Data

The Air India Group showed the highest proportion of repetitive defects. The group includes Air India and Air India Express. Overall, 191 of their 267 analyzed aircraft had recurring defects, or nearly 72%.

• Air India (Standalone): 137 out of 166 aircraft were flagged for repetitive defects. This represents approximately 82% of the analyzed fleet.
• IndiGo: 148 out of 405 analyzed aircraft were identified with recurring faults. This is roughly one out of every three planes.
• Air India Express: 54 out of 101 analyzed aircraft had repeated defects.
• Other Carriers: SpiceJet (16/43) and Akasa Air (14/32) also reported such issues.

The Nature of Recurring Technical Lapses

Recurring technical lapses are defects that reappear despite previous maintenance attempts. These issues suggest the root cause was not properly fixed or identified. While some defects can be safety-critical, others are less urgent.

An Air India executive noted that most of their issues were Category D. These low-priority items include seats, tray tables, and in-flight screens. However, the presence of any repetitive fault points to underlying aircraft maintenance issues.

Fleet reliability concerns are a major factor for airlines. Repeated defects can lead to unexpected groundings and delays. This impacts airline operational efficiency and passenger experience.

Regulatory Oversight and Manpower Concerns

The DGCA, India's aviation safety regulator, has stepped up its monitoring. Over the past year, the DGCA conducted extensive planned surveillance activities.

• Planned Inspections: 3,890 surveillance inspections and 56 regulatory audits were completed.
• Unplanned Checks: The regulator also performed 874 spot checks and 550 night inspections.

This increased scrutiny is part of a broader push for better aviation safety oversight. The DGCA is also addressing its own capacity challenges. The number of sanctioned technical posts was increased to 1,063. However, reports indicate that a significant number of these positions remain vacant. This shortage could strain the regulator's ability to maintain rigorous oversight.

The ministry’s 754 aircraft analysis underscores the need for better maintenance practices. Airlines must move beyond quick fixes to address the root causes of these repetitive snags. The DGCA continues to push for full compliance with airline safety standards.

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