Recurring Aviation Incidents and the Escape of Regulators and Airlines in India (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Introduction
- The frequent recurrence of serious aviation incidents in India highlights persistent issues in regulatory oversight and airline training standards.
- A recent example occurred on December 5, 2024, when an Air India Airbus A320 was forced to abort its takeoff at Mopa Airport in Goa after the crew mistakenly entered a parallel taxiway instead of the runway.
- This incident, categorized as "runway confusion," is part of a troubling pattern of similar occurrences that have plagued Indian aviation over the years.
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the body responsible for overseeing aviation safety in India, has often blamed pilots for such events, typically failing to investigate deeper systemic issues and take corrective action.
- This has allowed recurring incidents to go unaddressed, perpetuating a cycle of avoidable accidents.
History of Runway Confusion and Other Errors in Indian Aviation
A timeline of runway confusion and similar serious incidents in India reveals a longstanding pattern of errors:
- 1993: A Jet Airways Boeing 737 landed at the wrong airfield in Coimbatore, mistaking an Indian Air Force base for a civilian airport.
- 2002: A Jet Airways Boeing 737 mistakenly landed on a taxiway at Goa's Dabolim Airport.
- 2007: A Spicejet Boeing 737 landed on the wrong runway at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport.
- 2008: A Spicejet Boeing 737 again landed on the wrong runway in Kolkata.
- 2018: An Air India Airbus A320 mistakenly landed on a closed runway in the Maldives.
- 2020: A Spicejet Boeing 737 made a hard landing in Guwahati, Assam.
Despite these incidents, the DGCA often blames pilot error, while failing to address deeper systemic issues, including inadequate training, poor safety standards, and non-compliance with international safety regulations.
The Lack of Accountability
- The repeated occurrence of these incidents points to a lack of accountability on the part of both the DGCA and the airlines.
- While pilot errors are often cited as the cause, the systemic factors such as insufficient training, poor safety standards, and the failure to adhere to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) guidelines are rarely addressed.
- The DGCA's failure to implement corrective measures has resulted in India cutting a poor figure in international aviation.
- India's luck in avoiding fatalities in these incidents cannot overshadow the gravity of the situation.
- In countries like Singapore, proactive measures were taken following serious incidents, and they have not faced a similar issue in decades. India, however, seems unable to learn from such examples.
Singapore’s Corrective Measures and What India Can Learn
- On October 31, 2000, a Singapore Airlines flight in Taiwan attempted to take off from a closed runway, resulting in a crash with fatalities.
- In response, Singapore Airlines and the regulatory authorities took swift corrective actions, implementing new safety measures and comprehensive training programs for their crew.
- Since then, there have been no significant incidents. India could greatly benefit from adopting a similar approach to safety in its aviation sector.
Runway Overruns and Hull Losses: A Pattern of Accidents
Indian airlines have also faced repeated incidents of runway overruns, with many of these resulting in hull losses and damage to aircraft:
- October 2005: An Air Sahara Boeing 737 went off the runway at Mumbai.
- March 2015: A Spicejet DH8-D suffered damage after a runway excursion in Hubli.
- July 2019: A Spicejet Boeing 737 overran the runway at Mumbai.
- December 2016: A Jet Airways Boeing 737 went off the runway at Goa.
Despite the severity of these incidents, the systemic issues that cause them, such as poor infrastructure, inadequate safety audits, and training failures, continue to be overlooked. The recurring nature of these issues suggests that the airline management, the DGCA, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are not taking the necessary steps to rectify them.
Pressure on Crew and Inadequate Regulations
- The pressure on crew members, particularly pilots, is another key factor contributing to these recurring mistakes.
- Flight and duty time limitations in India are among the weakest globally, with pilots and cabin crew often being forced to operate under conditions that violate international safety regulations.
- This is further compounded by the pressure to meet On-Time Performance (OTP) targets, which can lead to lapses in decision-making and crew resource management.
- The Kozhikode crash in 2020, which claimed 179 lives, was a tragic example of how pressure to meet deadlines can result in a “press-on-it-is” mentality, where pilots fail to make crucial decisions that could have prevented the disaster.
- Similarly, in the Mangaluru crash of 2010, the co-pilot's repeated requests to abandon the landing were ignored by the captain, leading to a fatal outcome.
Training Deficiencies and Knowledge Gaps
- One of the primary causes of recurring incidents like the Mopa, Goa mishap is the lack of knowledge regarding runway markings and standard operating procedures.
- Pilots often fail to identify the differences between runway and taxiway markings, indicating a gap in training.
- Airlines must address these issues by improving training programs and ensuring that all pilots are well-versed in modern aviation procedures and safety standards.
Conclusion: Time for Change
- India's aviation sector needs a significant overhaul in terms of safety standards, training, and regulatory oversight.
- The recent Mopa incident is just another wake-up call, underscoring the need for corrective actions to prevent similar occurrences.
- India must learn from other nations, such as Singapore, that have demonstrated a commitment to safety through comprehensive reforms and consistent vigilance.
- The DGCA, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Indian airlines must adopt a more proactive approach to aviation safety, prioritizing accountability, systemic reforms, and pilot welfare.
- The culture of blaming pilots for systemic failures must end, and the focus must shift to creating a safety-first environment in which all stakeholders work together to reduce the risk of aviation accidents and ensure that Indian skies remain safe for travelers.
