In a concerning development for India’s growing aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has flagged 263 safety-related lapses during its annual audit of Indian carriers. The findings, released on Wednesday, shine a spotlight on persistent compliance gaps and underscore the urgent need for tighter regulatory oversight and internal safety management reforms, especially as India continues to experience rapid fleet and traffic growth.

The largest number of lapses, 51, were found at Air India, followed closely by 23 at IndiGo, the country’s largest airline by market share.

Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India, recorded 25 deficiencies, while Vistara, now merged into Air India, saw 17. SpiceJet accounted for 14 lapses, and Akasa Air is yet to be audited, the regulator confirmed.

The DGCA clarified that the audit was conducted in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) norms and global best practices. It also noted that a higher number of findings were typical among airlines operating larger fleets. However, 19 of the lapses were categorised as "Level I" breaches, indicating serious deviations from standard operating procedures or technical requirements.

While the DGCA did not disclose the exact nature of the infractions, the classification into Level I and Level II breaches suggests a combination of critical safety violations and procedural non-compliances.

The findings arrive at a critical juncture for Indian aviation. As carriers expand capacity and resume aggressive fleet acquisition post-pandemic, safety protocols and organisational safety cultures are under increasing scrutiny.

Experts warn that India’s aviation boom must be matched by robust safety governance, crew training, and technical preparedness to avoid systemic risks.

According to experts, the DGCA’s report highlights both the importance of regular safety audits and the need for airlines to invest more aggressively in Safety Management Systems (SMS), digital monitoring tools, and internal auditing mechanisms.