Financial
Express: Delhi: Wednesday, 16 July 2025.
The report also highlighted that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s central agency for aviation security, is grappling with a chronic staffing crisis.
Amid growing concerns over
air safety, an RTI query has revealed that in the last five years, India had 53
air accidents, including Air India crash, resulting in over 320 fatalities and
180 serious injuries. It is an increase of 14.29 per cent compared to the
previous five-year period, according to a Right to Information (RTI) query
filed by Bhaskar English.
The report also highlighted that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s central agency for aviation security, is grappling with a chronic staffing crisis. The query also revealed that more than 30 per cent of BCAS positions have remained unfilled for four consecutive years, raising serious concerns over India’s aviation safety framework.
As of 30 June 2025, BCAS had a sanctioned strength of 598 personnel, but 227 posts remained vacant, with only 371 positions filled. This means that nearly 38 per cent of the workforce is missing at a time when India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly.
The staffing shortage has worsened over the past six months, with the number of vacancies rising despite a small increase in sanctioned posts.
As a result, routine inspections, emergency preparedness, surprise checks, and inter-agency coordination are all under strain, placing immense pressure on existing staff.
The RTI data also highlights repeated accident hotspots. These include Kedarnath, Mumbai, Baramati, and other recurring locations such as Guna, Rewa, and Gondia associated with private aircraft operations or flight training schools, where pilot error and weak oversight appear to be contributing factors.
Financial Loss
According to Bhaskar’s analysis, the estimated financial loss from air accidents over the past five years exceeds Rs 4,000 crore. This includes the destruction of property, aircraft, and related infrastructure. Around 45 training aircraft, such as the Cessna 172 and Pipistrel, each costing Rs 6-8 crore, were lost, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 231 crore.
In addition to this, five helicopters valued between Rs 8-15 crore each were also destroyed, adding another Rs 40-75 crore to the toll. These figures exclude compensation payouts, legal costs, and infrastructure damage.
The report also highlighted that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s central agency for aviation security, is grappling with a chronic staffing crisis.
The report also highlighted that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s central agency for aviation security, is grappling with a chronic staffing crisis. The query also revealed that more than 30 per cent of BCAS positions have remained unfilled for four consecutive years, raising serious concerns over India’s aviation safety framework.
As of 30 June 2025, BCAS had a sanctioned strength of 598 personnel, but 227 posts remained vacant, with only 371 positions filled. This means that nearly 38 per cent of the workforce is missing at a time when India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly.
The staffing shortage has worsened over the past six months, with the number of vacancies rising despite a small increase in sanctioned posts.
As a result, routine inspections, emergency preparedness, surprise checks, and inter-agency coordination are all under strain, placing immense pressure on existing staff.
The RTI data also highlights repeated accident hotspots. These include Kedarnath, Mumbai, Baramati, and other recurring locations such as Guna, Rewa, and Gondia associated with private aircraft operations or flight training schools, where pilot error and weak oversight appear to be contributing factors.
Financial Loss
According to Bhaskar’s analysis, the estimated financial loss from air accidents over the past five years exceeds Rs 4,000 crore. This includes the destruction of property, aircraft, and related infrastructure. Around 45 training aircraft, such as the Cessna 172 and Pipistrel, each costing Rs 6-8 crore, were lost, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 231 crore.
In addition to this, five helicopters valued between Rs 8-15 crore each were also destroyed, adding another Rs 40-75 crore to the toll. These figures exclude compensation payouts, legal costs, and infrastructure damage.
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