Aniket Ghosh Flags Regulatory Gaps as Aviation Fiasco Triggers Parliamentary Scrutiny

As India’s civil aviation sector faces heightened scrutiny, the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s decision to summon the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), airline operators and other stakeholders marks a critical moment for regulatory accountability.

Commenting on the issue in a recent Fortune India article, Aniket Ghosh stated that the ongoing IndiGo crisis has brought renewed focus on the strength and enforcement of India’s aviation safety and compliance framework. He highlighted persistent concerns relating to Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) compliance, fatigue management, and emerging operational risks such as GPS spoofing, all of which carry serious legal and safety ramifications.

Aniket explained that under Aircraft Sectoral Regulations, airlines bear primary liability for ensuring compliance with FDTL norms. Repeated violations, particularly those linked to pilot fatigue, can lead to regulatory penalties, licence action, and heightened civil liability where passenger safety is jeopardised.

He further noted that where DGCA directives or court-mandated safety norms are flouted, stakeholders may explore contempt proceedings, especially in instances where prior judicial orders concerning safety or workforce protection exist.

At a systemic level, he emphasised that the current situation highlights the need for more robust DGCA enforcement, including mandatory fatigue-risk reporting, independent audits, and stricter penalties for concealment or delayed reporting of safety incidents.

As parliamentary oversight intensifies, these observations highlight the growing demand for transparency, accountability, and stronger regulatory discipline across India’s civil aviation sector.

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