NEW DELHI, Nov. 2 -- DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson on Monday raised serious concerns over aviation safety after an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Shillong was cancelled following a reported engine failure while taxiing towards the runway. He questioned how the aircraft had been certified fit to fly and demanded an independent review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Wilson, who was travelling on IndiGo flight 6E 7423 along with three other Members of Parliament and 67 passengers to attend a Joint Parliamentary Committee public hearing, said the aircraft suddenly stopped while moving from the parking bay towards the runway. According to the MP, one of the aircraft's engines failed before take-off and was subsequently shut down. Passengers remained on board for approximately two hours before the pilot announced a technical problem and cancelled the flight. The parliamentarian sought the intervention of Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, urging him to direct the aviation regulator to examine the airworthiness certification of aircraft operating across the country.
In a post on X, Wilson recounted the incident and said passengers had boarded the aircraft expecting to reach Shillong for the parliamentary committee proceedings. He alleged that the aircraft developed a technical failure even before reaching the runway, raising questions about whether it had undergone adequate safety checks. The MP said the pilot eventually informed passengers about the technical snag and announced the cancellation after they had spent nearly two hours inside the aircraft. Wilson described the incident as a serious warning about possible deficiencies in aircraft maintenance and regulatory oversight. He maintained that an aircraft experiencing such a failure should not have been cleared for passenger operations without adequate verification of its technical condition. Wilson called for a comprehensive and impartial examination of airworthiness certificates issued to aircraft operating in India. He urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to direct the DGCA to conduct surprise inspections wherever necessary and establish whether aircraft were meeting prescribed safety standards. According to the MP, aircraft found unsuitable for operations should have their certificates cancelled and be immediately grounded until their safety could be established.
He emphasised that airworthiness certification was a fundamental safeguard for passengers and should not be treated as a routine administrative formality. The MP also sought accountability for officials responsible for approving aircraft that failed to meet safety requirements. Escalating his criticism, Wilson alleged that improper coordination between certain airline operators and regulatory officials could compromise aviation safety. He claimed that some aircraft were being allowed to operate despite concerns about their technical condition and questioned the effectiveness of existing inspection and certification procedures.
The DMK leader also referred to the Air India Flight AI171 crash while expressing concern over the consequences of inadequate regulatory oversight. His allegations regarding airline-regulator collusion have not been independently established. Wilson said passengers placed their trust in airlines and aviation authorities whenever they boarded an aircraft and should not have to worry about preventable technical failures. He questioned what might have happened had the reported engine failure occurred after take-off rather than while the aircraft was still on the ground.
The DMK parliamentarian demanded strict action against those responsible for permitting unsafe aircraft to operate, including disciplinary measures against regulatory officials found guilty of negligence or misconduct. He said the DGCA must ensure that every aircraft carrying passengers complies with prescribed technical and operational safety requirements. The incident has renewed questions about aircraft maintenance, pre-flight inspections and the effectiveness of regulatory supervision in India's rapidly expanding aviation sector. The precise technical cause of the reported engine failure and whether any certification requirements were breached remain to be established.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.