Lok Sabha Question No. 4450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: Safety Norms for Air Passengers
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. D. Purandeswari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 4450

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  19th March 2026 )

## SAFETY NORMS FOR AIR PASSENGERS

4450.    DR. D. PURANDESWARI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government is aware that aircraft operated by a private airline recently lost a wheel mid-air during flight, raising concerns regarding passenger safety, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the regulatory checks by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) could not detect the lapses in aircraft maintenance and if so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether DGCA's  decision to defer revised pilot fatigue rules has compounded  safety  risks,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (d)  the  corrective  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  balance  airline profitability with strict enforcement of safety and fatigue norms; and

(e) whether any accountability mechanisms are available to prevent recurrence of  such  safety  violations,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister  of  State  in  the  Ministry  of  CIVIL  AVIATION            (Shri  Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (e): M/s Spicejet aircraft VT-SQB on 12.09.2025 while operating flight SEJ-2906 from Kandla- Mumbai was reported loss of RH outboard main wheel during  takeoff.  The  aircraft  landed  safely  at  Mumbai.  The  occurrence  is classified as incident  under  Rule  13(1)  of  the  Aircraft  (Investigation  of Accidents  and  Incidents)  Rules,  2025  and  being  investigated  by  Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

DGCA issues the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to the airline on compliance with laid down Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) which requires the airline to  have  organised  maintenance  structure  for  maintaining  the  aircraft  in  a continuous state of airworthiness.

DGCA ensures  that  the  airline  and  the  maintenance  organisation  continue  to comply with the regulatory requirements through a system of regulatory audits, night surveillances, ramp inspections, spot check and special audits etc. In case of  non-compliances  and  discrepancies  observed  during  regulatory  checks  or defect/  lapses  observed  during  maintenance  and  operation  of  aircraft,  DGCA ensures that corrective action is taken by the airline/maintenance organisation before releasing the aircraft for flight operation.

The  CAR  related  to  Flight  Duty  Time  limitations  (FDTL)  is  in  force  with limited  variations  given  to  airlines  based  on  type  and  nature  of  operations subject  to  Safety  Risk  Assessment  (SRA).  No  compromise  is  allowed  while enforcing safety and fatigue norms. Further, two audits in the area of FDTL of all  airlines  in  July,  2025  to  August,  2025  and  December,  2025  to  February, 2026 have been carried out.

Further, DGCA has issued General Safety Circular 02/2025 dated 11.12.2025 on  Advance  Preparedness  and  Timely  Compliance  of  Specific  Operating Regulations.

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