The Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday that 99 aircraft were grounded this year till March 25 due to technical defects and maintenance delays, even as it flagged revenue losses faced by airlines amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said, “Aircraft grounded due to technical defects or maintenance delays were reported as 356 in 2023, 414 in 2024, 567 in 2025, and 99 in 2026 (as on 25.03.2026).”
He said there was “no overall shortage of pilots or crew in the Indian aviation sector”, though a shortage of experienced commanders persists for certain aircraft types. This, he added, is being managed by employing foreign pilots under the Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorisation (FATA) framework.
In a separate reply, the minister said Indian airlines are incurring significant revenue losses due to the Middle East conflict, which has disrupted flight operations and air routes.
Also read: West Asia crisis: Govt weighs tax relief as airline costs surge
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued multiple advisories to ensure the safety of passengers, crew and aircraft in light of evolving risks arising from the crisis.
“These advisories provide operational guidance on affected airspace, including NOTAM, identification of high-risk areas, FIR boundaries, and impacted countries, enabling operators to plan safe routing after conducting comprehensive Safety Risk Assessments,” Mohol said.
The regulator is closely monitoring flight operations, while Indian missions in the West Asian region are coordinating with host governments to facilitate the return of stranded Indian nationals.
The minister said airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have reported significant financial losses due to the ongoing situation.
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