Kolkata: The Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 killed 241 out of the 242 people on board, making it one of the most devastating aviation incidents in history. The ground impact of the crash was also massive, resulting in the death of more than 30 people as the plane bludgeoned a hostel of medical students.
Amid the many narratives that the aftermath of the crash entails, including the shock, grief, and most importantly the probe of the black boxes, a Parliamentary committee report presented in March has once again come into focus. Interestingly, the report mentioned discrepancies in funding for accident investigations and aviation security.
While India is the world’s third-largest aviation market, the report deemed the budget of Rs 35 crore allocated for security infrastructure and accident investigation capabilities to be inadequate. The report, prepared by the Parliament Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture, was presented in the Rajya Sabha on March 25 and it flagged the disparity in the budget allocated to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). In the financial year 2025-26, the DGCA received Rs 30 crore while AAIB got Rs 20 crore and BCAS was allocated Rs 15 crore.
The report observed that since airports and the number of people travelling on flights are increasing in India, AAIB and BCAS need more funds and called to examine the budget allocated to the DGCA to ensure “efficiency and accountability”. The report also stated that with the rapid increase of airports in India, there should be proportional growth in accident investigation resources and security capabilities.
The report said, “It is imperative to assess whether these funds are adequate to strengthen security infrastructure and enhance investigative capabilities. As aviation expands to Tier II and III cities under the modified UDAN scheme, security infrastructure and capabilities must be extended proportionally.”
