India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: In a decisive move to tighten aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday ordered the immediate grounding of four Learjet aircraft operated by VSR Ventures, following last month's fatal crash that killed Ajit Pawar and others near Baramati. The January 28 accident involving a Learjet 40/45 aircraft has triggered heightened scrutiny of non-scheduled aviation operators across the country. In the aftermath, the DGCA conducted a special safety audit of VSR Ventures, which revealed multiple lapses in critical areas such as airworthiness, flight safety, and operational procedures. Based on the audit findings, the regulator identified serious gaps in maintenance practices and compliance with approved safety protocols. As a corrective step, it directed that four aircraft, bearing registrations VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI, be grounded with immediate effect. These aircraft will remain out of service until they meet the required airworthiness standards and safety benchmarks. The crackdown comes amid growing concern over aviation safety, particularly in the non-scheduled and charter flight segment. On the same day, the DGCA held a high-level meeting with operators in response to the recent surge of aviation incidents. Within 24 hours, there were three separate reports of Air emergencies highlighting an alarming trend for the DGCA. During this meeting, the DGCA established a set of guidelines to improve transparency and accountability in the industry. Operators have been directed to publish important safety-related documents on their websites, such as their aircraft's age, maintenance history, and compliance with legal requirements. This change will give passengers and stakeholders access to the operational safety standard that governs their operation.
Mumbai: Air India has issued a statement explaining the reason behind the delay in the take off of the Bangkok-bound Air India Flight AI 2354, on June 25. The flight was delayed for more than 5 hours after hay was discovered lodged beneath the left wing of the aircraft, the airline confirmed in a statement. Reportedly, Flight AI 2354, operated by an Airbus A320Neo, was scheduled to depart Mumbai at 7:45 AM but took off only around 1:00 PM. The airline's immediate action in the matter resulted in the quick removal of the hay, stated the airline. The aircraft was subsequently deemed fit for ope ...Read More >
New Delhi: As the investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 continues, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has confirmed that "possible sabotage" is one of the aspects under scrutiny. His statement follows the launch of a comprehensive investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is currently analysing data from the aircraft's black boxes. The crash occurred on June 12, shortly after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board. The final death toll now stands a ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Senior officials of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told a parliamentary panel on Wednesday that the preliminary report on the plane crash in Ahmedabad is likely to be placed in the public domain in the next few days, sources said. Parliament's Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture met here on Wednesday with members making queries and seeking clarifications on the issue of safety and aircraft maintenance. The members, sources said, talked about the vast expansion of air sector in India, the projected growth and the need to exp ...Read More >
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) informed a parliamentary panel that the initial investigation report on the Air India Flight AI-171 incident in Ahmedabad is still pending, contrary to media reports. The AAIB clarified that the preliminary report will be released within 30 days of the June 12 crash, setting a timeline for the public disclosure of findings. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has clarified to a parliamentary panel that it has not yet submitted the i ...Read More >
New Delhi/Mumbai, Jul 13 (PTI) A five-member team, headed by 56-year-old Sanjay Kumar Singh, is probing the fatal crash of the Air India aircraft last month in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Director Singh is the Investigator-in-Charge and Deputy Director Jasbir Singh Larhga is the Chief Investigator. Also Read | Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Approves To Install CCTV Cameras in All 74,000 Coaches To Enhance Passenger Safety. There are also three Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials in the investigation team -- Deputy Dir ...Read More >
Mumbai: Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday asked airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking system in their Boeing 787 and 737 planes, a move that comes days after the preliminary probe report into the Air India's Boeing 787 crash found that the switches were cut off before the accident last month. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), back in 2018, had flagged the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain models of Boeing aircraft, including 787s and 737s. It was mentioned in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) but there was no airwort ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
Mhow, Jun 7 (PTI) In a disturbing incident, a stray dog was seen clutching a dead newborn in its jaws near the toilet of a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on Saturday before a security guard managed to retrieve the body after shooing away the animal. Authorities at the civil hospital in Mhow, some 25 kilometres from the district headquarters, and police have begun a probe into the antecedents of the newborn and the chain of events that followed. ...Read More >
Travellers in India -- both domestic and international -- have been facing numerous flight delays and disruptions in recent days. These include delays in Air India's Dreamliner fleet due to stricter inspection norms set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after the AI 171 crash, long-haul flight delays due to route disruptions caused by the Middle East tension, and domestic delays owing to bad weather conditions. Many passengers have taken to social media to express frustration and share images of the chaos across airports. So, if you're one of the affected airline passengers ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday raised serious concerns over aviation safety following the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad and the sudden surge in flight fares from Srinagar to other cities after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, according to sources. The Parliamentary panel today met with top officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and representatives from major airlines. As per sources, several committe members have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the way various airlines drastically increased their ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday it will put in place a mechanism to curb whopping surge in air ticket prices, recently witnessed during the Maha Kumbh and post-Pahalgam terror attack, as the issue coupled with concerns over air safety after the Ahmedabad plane crash dominated proceedings at a parliamentary panel meeting. Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson told the committee his airline will complete retrofitting of its fleet in two years to address frequent complaints about its seats and other facilities, and underscored its commitment to flight safety, source ...Read More >
Bhopal: Nabha, the eight-year-old Namibian cheetah in the Kuno national park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday succumbed to injuries that she had sustained while hunting. She had been under treatment for a week for her injuries, KNP field director Uttam Kumar Sharma told this newspaper. "Nabha got badly injured a week back probably during a hunting attempt inside her soft release boma (large enclosure). She had fractures in both ulna (bone in the foreleg) and fibula (smaller of the two outer bones between knee and ankle) on the left side along with other injuries. Further details will be kn ...Read More >
Mumbai: Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday asked airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking system in their Boeing 787 and 737 planes, a move that comes days after the preliminary probe report into the Air India's Boeing 787 crash found that the switches were cut off before the accident last month. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), back in 2018, had flagged the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain models of Boeing aircraft, including 787s and 737s. It was mentioned in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) but there was no airwort ...Read More >
Mumbai: Recurring aircraft defects, unserviceable ground handling gear, and faded runway markings are among a range of safety lapses discovered by the civil aviation regulator after an intensive survey of key airports including Delhi and Mumbai. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered airport operators and airlines to address these safety concerns within a week. The inspections come on the heels of the June 12 crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on ...Read More >
MUMBAI -- Investigators have recovered flight recorder data from the Air India crash earlier this month, the civil aviation ministry has confirmed, marking a key step in the probe. At least 270 people were killed when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed less than a minute after taking off on 12 June from Ahmedabad airport in western India. Investigators had earlier recovered both sets of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) - the "black boxes" - from the Boeing 787 crash site on 13 and 16 June - one from a rooftop, the other from the debris. It could be several weeks befo ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1(ANI): An Air India flight en route to Vienna from Delhi experienced a serious mid-air incident on June 14, during which the aircraft suddenly lost altitude by nearly 900 feet, prompting an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Air India, in an official statement, confirmed that both pilots involved in the incident have been removed from active duty pending the outcome of the probe. The airline stated that the matter was reported to the DGCA immediately, by aviation regulations. Also Read | India Developing Its Own Bunker-Buster Missile? ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is holding a meeting at Parliament House Annexe. The meeting will focus on the Overall review of safety in the civil aviation sector Committee Chairman Sanjay Kumar Jha, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, and Officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the Airports Authority of India. are attending the Tuesday meeting being held at Parliament House Annexe On Tuesday, Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) raised serious concerns ...Read More >
Guwahati: A preliminary investigation report into the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft on June 12 in Ahmedabad has revealed that both engines shut down moments after take-off due to a shift in the fuel control switches. The incident claimed the lives of at least 260 people. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! According to the report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) late on Friday, the fuel switches for both engines transitioned from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" within seconds of the aircraft becoming airborne. The firs ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old girl from Sabroom in South Tripura district, reportedly went missing in the national capital. Following this, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha gave necessary instructions to the police to take immediate and appropriate action on the matter. Also Read | Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU Goods as Trade Talks Stall. In a statement posted on its official social media account, the Tripura Chief Minister's Office stated, "The report of Miss Sneha Debnath, a resident of Sabroom, who has reportedly gone missing in New Delhi, has come t ...Read More >
New Delhi: The death sentence of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who was sentenced to death in Yemen, has been postponed for the time being. She was to be executed by shooting today, July 16. According to media reports, activist groups and influential religious leaders intervened in the matter, after which the death sentence of Nimisha Priya was postponed. Earlier, many efforts were also made at the diplomatic level to save Nimisha from the death penalty. There is also news that the victim's family has not yet agreed to clemency or blood money. As a last-ditch effort to save her, Kanthapuram A. ...Read More >
New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA will soon come out with streamlined regulations for wet-leasing of planes by Indian airlines that will also entail enhanced oversight of the aircraft, amid airlines looking to operate more planes to meet rising travel demand. With persisting supply chain woes, there is a delay in aircraft deliveries and to meet the near-term needs, carriers are opting for planes on dry and wet leases. A senior official in the know told PTI that the efforts are on to streamline the regulations for wet-leasing of planes to assist in the growth of the aviation. "Realities of the ...Read More >
June 25 (Rtrs) - India would not allow a UN investigator to join a probe of a crashed Air India jet that some safety experts had criticized for delays in analysis of crucial black box data, two senior sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Earlier this week, the United Nations aviation agency took the unusual step of offering India one of its investigators to provide assistance following the Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 787-8 Dreamliner crash killing 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12. ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conducted an inspection of the Air India office and discovered that there is currently no chief pilot assigned to oversee the operations and safety of the Boeing 787 fleet. This alarming revelation comes just days after Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, crashed into a building mere seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The tragic incident involved 242 passengers and resulted in over 250 casualties, as the aircraft crashed into a medical hostel building. Out of the ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) An Air India flight from Delhi to Washington, which took off on July 2, could not complete its journey after it developed a technical glitch during a scheduled refuelling stopover in Vienna, the Tata Group-owned airline said on Thursday. Consequently, its return flight from Washington to Delhi, scheduled on July 2, was also cancelled. Also Read | India Weather Forecast: Monsoon in Active Phase, Heavy Rainfall to Continue in Most Parts of India for Almost Entire Week, Says IMD Scientist. Of late, frequent delays and cancellations of long-haul flights by Air India have bee ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 4 (ANI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday came down heavily on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) over its pitch to reconsider the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution while saying that it was 'all talk'. He dared and challenged RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the centre to remove the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble. 'Days before, I heard that some RSS person said that we should remove Secular and Socialist words from ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) Seconds before Air India flight 171 crashed while ascending from Ahmedabad, the fuel control switches of both its engines were cut off, a preliminary investigation report said on Saturday, suggesting a catastrophic pilot error in the cockpit of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Airlines Pilots Association of India raised the issue with the report, saying the investigation is "shrouded in secrecy," appears to be biased against the pilot and has come to a conclusion hastily. A 15-page preliminary investigation report into the disaster revealed fuel-control switches of the ...Read More >
The captain of an Air India plane that crashed last month killing 260 people had promised he would return home hours before jetting off on the doomed flight. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, was the senior pilot onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that plummeted into a residential area in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 people on board and 19 people on the ground. The veteran aviator, who had more than 8,200 hours in the cockpit, is being looked into by investigators over suggestions he turned off t ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANII): In a significant move to enhance the quality and transparency of pilot training in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday officially announced the formal commencement of a comprehensive ranking framework for Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) across the country. The initiative aims to ensure standardisation, safety, and accountability in India's aviation training sector. The ranking system will be implemented as of October 1, 2025, and rankings will be published twice a year, on April 1 and October 1, to provide timely and upd ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday wrote to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, demanding a probe to figure out how details of a preliminary report into the crash of Air India flight AI171 was released to the international media before its release in India. In a letter to Naidu, she said a formal inquiry should be conducted into the "leak". Seeking transparency regarding the authorship of the report, Chaturvedi said the names of all members of the investigation panel should be made public, and the interim report should bear the signatur ...Read More >
(This was originally published in the India File newsletter, which is issued every Tuesday. Sign up here to get the latest news from India and how it matters to the world.) Indian investigators' preliminary report on the crash of an Air India flight that killed 260 people has put the focus squarely on the pilots and the aircraft's fuel switches. We wrap up the latest developments and new questions raised about commercial aviation's worst accident in more than a decade. And India remains conspic ...Read More >