The rise in numbers of airline accidents led the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to launch a crackdown on the airlines.
The crackdown included auditing airlines, issuing show-cause notices etc.
As a result, the number of accidents is showing a declining trend.
The accidents mostly included aircraft overshooting runways and suffering tail strikes on landing.
Airline accidents that began from April this year, peaked in July. But after the crackdown, the numbers decreased and according to DGCA data in August and September, there have been six and two incidents, respectively, that required the regulator to take enforcement action.
According to DDCA data, the month-wise number of incidents needing such action this year is January-3; February-8; March-5; April 3; May-4; June-7; July-11; August-6 and September-2.
Out of these 49 incidents, SpiceJet alone accounted for 20; AI Group (AI, AI Express and Alliance Air) and IndiGo for 11 each; Vistara, GoAir and AirAsia India for 2 each and one for Heritage Aviation.
“The crackdown post the sudden spiralling revealed alarming practices (in some airlines). We will always be constantly vigilant,” news reports quoting DGCA chief Arun Kumar stated.
“We have arrested the worrying spiralling trend of accidents this monsoon and our safety standards are showing definite signs of improvement,” he further said.
“Safety cannot and will not be compromised and we will not allow any laxity,” he added.
Since August, the spiralling rate of incidents has shown a declining trend.
“The details found in the probe were shared with those responsible for the same,” Kumar said.
Based on their replies, we took required enforcement action,” the DGCA chief further said.
“Under our robust appeals process, we give a personal hearing to the crew involved and take the correct view,” he added.