CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP P Wilson on Monday raised concerns over aviation safety after an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Shillong was cancelled following an engine failure while taxiing. He alleged that the aircraft was "unsafe" and questioned how it had been issued an airworthiness certificate.




Wilson urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to intervene and direct the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to conduct an impartial review of airworthiness certificates issued to aircraft operating across the country. He also called for surprise inspections to ensure passenger safety.




In a post on X, the DMK MP said he was travelling on IndiGo flight 6E 7423 from Kolkata to Shillong along with three other MPs and 67 passengers to attend a Joint Parliamentary Committee public hearing when the aircraft came to a halt while taxiing towards the runway.




"Today, when I, along with three other MPs and 67 passengers, boarded IndiGo flight 6E 7423 @IndiGo6E from Kolkata Airport to Shillong to attend a Joint Parliamentary Committee public hearing, the flight suddenly stopped while taxiing from the parking bay towards the runway. Before take-off, an engine failed and was shut down. Passengers were stranded on board for about two hours. Afterwards, the pilot announced a technical glitch and cancelled the flight," he said.



He alleged that the incident raised questions about the regulatory checks conducted before aircraft are allowed to operate.




"The truth is that the flight was unsafe, and it is unclear how the DGCA (@DGCAIndia) granted this aircraft an airworthiness certificate--a serious violation," he said.




Wilson called on the civil aviation minister to ask the DGCA to review the airworthiness certificates of all aircraft and verify whether they were fit to fly. He also sought surprise inspections by vigilance units wherever necessary.




"If they are not, the DGCA should cancel their certificates, ground the aircraft and prohibit them from flying," Wilson said.




The MP further alleged an "unholy nexus" between certain airlines and DGCA officials, claiming that it allowed unsafe aircraft, including those allegedly operating without certificates, to remain in service.




"The unholy nexus between some airlines and some DGCA officials that allows them to operate unsafe aircraft, sometimes without certificates, often leads to flight crashes (e.g. AI 171)," he alleged.




Raising concerns about the risks to passengers, Wilson questioned what could happen if an aircraft developed technical problems mid-air, stressing that people travel by air trusting that flights are safe.




"The innocent public trusts that flights are safe and undertakes journeys. What happens if a flight develops technical snags in mid-air?" he said.




Emphasising the significance of airworthiness certification, Wilson said it was the basic assurance that an aircraft was technically fit to fly.




"Airworthiness certification is the most fundamental assurance that an aircraft is technically safe to fly. An airworthiness certificate cannot be allowed to remain valid for an aircraft that is truly unworthy to fly," Wilson said.




He added that any compromise in the certification process could affect passenger safety, operational integrity and compliance with global regulatory norms.




Demanding accountability, the DMK MP called for punishment for those responsible for allowing unsafe aircraft to operate and strict action against officials found guilty of wrongdoing.




"The offenders should be punished, and erring officials should be sacked," he said.



(With Agency Inputs)