The numbers are stark. Over 1,200 technical snags reported across India’s aviation sector in just three years. Major carriers like IndiGo and Air India accounting for a significant share of the tally. And a regulator that is now stepping up real-time monitoring like never before.
On April 3, 2026, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol submitted data to the Rajya Sabha that painted a detailed—and concerning—picture of the technical health of Indian aviation. The figures cover the calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025, revealing trends that every aviator, passenger, and industry stakeholder needs to understand.
At Aviators360, we’ve analyzed the data, spoken to industry patterns, and broken down what this means for the safety of the skies you fly every day.
The Big Picture: 1,200+ Snags and Counting
According to the Minister’s response, the total number of technical snags reported by Indian airlines has shown a gradual decline, but remains stubbornly high:
| Year | Technical Snags Reported |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 470 |
| 2024 | 421 |
| 2025 | 353 |
Total (2023-2025): 1,244 snags
While the downward trend from 470 to 353 is welcome, the aviation community knows that even a single technical snag—if mishandled—can have catastrophic consequences. The fact that India’s skies witnessed over 350 such incidents in 2025 alone is a clear signal that operational stress on the system remains intense.
Minister Mohol noted that a multi-layered safety oversight mechanism is already in place. But the data suggests that oversight alone isn’t enough—which is precisely why the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now deploying advanced digital tools to get ahead of the curve.
Airline-Wise Breakdown: Who Reported What?
The most revealing part of the data is the airline-by-airline account. It tells a story of fluctuating maintenance challenges, post-pandemic fleet pressures, and the complex reality of rapid expansion.
IndiGo: A Dramatic Dip Then a Rise
India’s largest carrier reported 246 snags in 2023—the highest among all airlines that year. This dropped sharply to 46 in 2024, a remarkable improvement. However, 2025 saw a rise again to 110 snags.
What explains the dip and then the rise? Industry watchers suggest that aggressive maintenance interventions in late 2023 and early 2024 paid off temporarily, but the sheer scale of IndiGo’s fleet—now well over 300 aircraft—means that maintaining low snag numbers is an ongoing battle.
Air India: A Troubling Spike
Under new management and in the midst of a massive fleet renewal, Air India recorded 46 snags in 2023. But in 2024, that number jumped sharply to 212—the highest single-year tally for any carrier in the three-year period. In 2025, the airline reported an additional 105 snags.
The data suggests significant maintenance challenges during Air India’s transition phase. Integrating new aircraft, retiring old ones, and overhauling engineering processes is a complex undertaking. The snag numbers reflect that reality.
Vistara (Now Merged with Air India)
Before its merger, Vistara logged 79 snags in 2023, 44 in 2024, and a spike to 105 in 2025. The increase in its final year of independent operations raises questions about maintenance pressures as the airline prepared for integration.
Other Carriers: A Mixed Picture
| Airline | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpiceJet | 47 | 23 | 38 |
| Air India Express | 17 | 41 | 35 |
| Akasa Air | 6 | 4 | 64 |
| Alliance Air | 7 | 51 | 1 |
Akasa Air’s numbers stand out: from just 6 snags in 2023 and 4 in 2024, the airline reported 64 snags in 2025. This coincides with the airline’s rapid fleet expansion and network growth—a classic pattern where operational tempo outpaces maintenance maturity.
Alliance Air showed a dramatic drop from 51 snags in 2024 to just 1 in 2025, suggesting successful remedial action.
DGCA’s Response: From Reactive to Predictive
The government has made it clear that safety is non-negotiable. The DGCA continues to monitor airlines and maintenance organizations through a comprehensive regimen of:
Regulatory audits
Night surveillance
Ramp inspections
Spot checks
These measures ensure compliance with airworthiness standards. But the real game-changer is digital.
‘Track the Tail’: Real-Time Monitoring Arrives
The DGCA has deployed a new digital monitoring system called ‘Track the Tail’ on the eGCA platform. This system enables:
Real-time tracking of aircraft health across their lifecycle
Component performance monitoring to identify degradation before failure
Early flagging of potential technical issues
For the first time, Indian regulators can move beyond periodic inspections and into predictive safety. The system is designed to strengthen oversight by giving the DGCA a continuous, data-driven view of every aircraft’s technical status.
Officials have confirmed that any non-compliance detected during audits or inspections triggers enforcement action against airlines and personnel, including:
Warnings
Suspensions
Cancellations
Financial penalties
Beyond Scheduled Flights: The Private Aviation Concern
The Minister’s response also addressed India’s private aviation segment, including charter jets and helicopters. The data here is equally concerning.
Over the past five years (2021-2025), Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) holders have reported 17 accidents:
| Year | NSOP Accidents |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
The trend is upward: 5 accidents in 2025 alone. This segment—catering to charter services, corporate travel, and helicopter operations—has historically received less regulatory attention than scheduled airlines. That may now change, as the DGCA moves to tighten oversight in this fast-growing space.
What This Means for Passengers
If you’re a frequent flyer on Indian carriers, this data isn’t meant to alarm you—it’s meant to inform you.
Technical snags happen globally. What matters is how they are reported, investigated, and prevented.
The DGCA’s enhanced monitoring means that problems are being caught earlier than ever before.
A decline in snags from 470 to 353 shows that the system is moving in the right direction, even if the pace is slow.
However, passengers should also be aware that a snag does not always mean a safety risk. Many snags are minor technical issues that are resolved before they affect flight safety. The DGCA’s enforcement actions are triggered only when non-compliance—meaning failure to follow proper procedures—is detected.
The Aviators360 Take
At Aviators360, we see this data as a reality check.
India’s aviation sector is growing faster than almost any other in the world. New aircraft are being delivered. New routes are being opened. Millions of new passengers are taking to the skies.
But growth must be matched by maintenance rigor. The 1,200+ snags over three years are not a crisis—but they are a warning. They tell us that the system is under pressure, and that regulators and airlines must work together to ensure that safety keeps pace with expansion.
The DGCA’s deployment of ‘Track the Tail’ is a welcome step. Predictive monitoring is the future of aviation safety. Now, airlines must fully cooperate, and the regulator must be willing to take tough enforcement action when needed.
The skies of India are safe. But safety is not a destination—it is a continuous journey. And the data from the Rajya Sabha tells us that journey requires renewed focus, better tools, and unwavering commitment.
*We will continue to track India’s aviation safety data as it evolves. For real-time updates on DGCA enforcement actions, fleet monitoring, and industry trends, stay tuned to Aviators360—India’s trusted voice in aviation insights.*
Disclaimer: This article is based on data submitted to the Rajya Sabha and reported by The Tribune India on April 3, 2026. Aviators360 has not independently verified the raw data but relies on the official parliamentary response. All figures are as presented by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation.