Why one air crash after another in India?
New Delhi: The deadly air disasters in recent months, including the Kedarnath helicopter crash, expose serious flaws in the Modi government’s aviation policies.
According to Kashmir Media Service, on June 15, 2025, a Beal 407 helicopter en route from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed in the forests of Gaurikund where seven people, including a child, died. The Aryan Aviation aircraft was cleared to fly despite fog and low visibility.
On June 12, 2025: Air India flight AI-171 crashed near Ahmedabad and 274 fatalities initial reports indicated engine failure, ATC negligence, and lack of timely emergency response.
On June 4, 2025: HAL Dornier 228 aircraft crashed in mountainous Arunachal Pradesh with 6 deaths. According to the DGCA report, both engines of the aircraft stopped responding during the flight.
Similarly on May 23, 2025, a chartered aircraft taking off from Mumbai crashed in Navi Mumbai moments after takeoff.
3 deaths. AIU inquiry blamed overloading and crew negligence.
On May 10, 2025, a tourist helicopter crashed in a mountainous area in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh with 5 deaths. Causes included incorrect weather clearance and untrained pilot.
India has seen five serious air disasters in just six weeks, but there has been no major policy review, national accountability, or drastic reforms by the Modi government.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s announcement to suspend heli services in Uttarakhand and formulate SOPs is a belated and formal move, while several accidents have occurred in the region in the past years.
According to a 2024 report by aviation regulatory authority DGCA 67percent of small aviation operators failed safety audits and 42 percent of aircraft maintenance reports were found to be forged. Mountain flying training remained only “recommended”, not mandatory
The Modi government’s focus has been on building a record number of airports, rushing to privatize, and increasing the number of domestic flights, while safety audits, crew training, and flight regulations have been consistently ignored.
Pilots in the Himalayan regions fly complex air routes with limited training, and many helicopters and planes are kept in service despite their advanced age.
Recent reports by global aviation organizations (IATA, ICAO) have declared India a “high risk zone”, but the government has only made formal statements.
Despite two major accidents (AI-171 and Kedarnath helicopter crash) in 72 hours, and 280+ deaths, the silence of the Center is incomprehensible.
Indian airspace is not just busy, it has become deadly. Unless the Modi government abandons symbolic victories, showy progress and election narratives and prioritizes real system reform, air travel will continue to be a dangerous gamble for millions of people.
