Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said that nearly 90,000 passengers have travelled between India and the Gulf region over the past week, despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that Indian aviation authorities and airlines have been working closely to ensure that flight operations remain safe during the crisis.

According to Naidu, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been in constant contact with airlines and has issued clear instructions to ensure that flights to and from West Asia operate only when safety can be guaranteed.

“DGCA has engaged with airlines and issued circulars so that they operate flights to West Asia only when 100 per cent safety can be ensured. With the support of airlines, around 90,000 people were able to travel last week. We expect that if the situation improves, more people will be able to travel,” Naidu told the House.

Update on Ahmedabad Air India crash probe

During the discussion, the minister also provided an update on the investigation into the crash of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India Flight AI 171, which crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad last year.

Naidu said that the investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is progressing well. “The investigation is moving at a very good pace, and the ministry is providing all necessary resources to the AAIB. The final report is expected to be released by the end of the year,” the minister said.

The accident, which occurred on June 12, claimed the lives of 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.

DGCA oversight and safety findings

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed Parliament in a written reply that the DGCA identified 550 Level-II repetitive safety findings across various aviation operators and organisations between 2023 and 2025.

During the same period, 29 enforcement actions were taken by the regulator.

He added that no Level-I safety deficiencies were pending as of December 31, 2025.

Under DGCA regulations:

•Level-I findings are considered critical safety issues and must be rectified within seven days. Airlines cannot continue operations with such findings unless they are corrected.

•Level-II findings are less severe but must be resolved within 30 days.

In certain rare cases, airlines may be allowed to operate under restricted conditions until issues are resolved. However, the DGCA can initiate enforcement action if airlines fail to comply with safety requirements.

The government said these monitoring mechanisms are part of its broader efforts to ensure strict aviation safety oversight while maintaining operational continuity during challenging situations such as the current geopolitical crisis.