In a crucial Parliament session, PAC pulls up aviation authorities and airlines over the Air India AI-171 crash and spike in airfares post-Pahalgam terror attack, demanding fare regulation, increased manpower in DGCA, and safety audits.
New Delhi [India], July 8: The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airline CEOs, and other aviation regulators to address two critical concerns — the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 passengers and the sudden spike in airfares from Srinagar to other cities following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. MPs raised alarm over fare exploitation during crises and questioned the preparedness and manpower of India’s civil aviation safety watchdog.
According to the Lok Sabha website, the agenda of the meeting included oral evidence from representatives of the DGCA, AERA, AAI, BCAS, and other aviation-related entities on the regulation of fees, tariffs, and public infrastructure charges. The meeting witnessed active participation from senior officials, including Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, who was present at Parliament House for deliberations.
MPs across party lines criticised the airlines for what they termed “predatory pricing” immediately after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The MPs alleged that fares had skyrocketed, exploiting stranded passengers, and demanded transparent pricing mechanisms and regulatory enforcement.
Congress MP KC Venugopal, who chairs the PAC, said, “The Committee has asked for clear-cut fare regulations to avoid profiteering in sensitive situations like terror attacks and mass gatherings such as the Kumbh.” He also confirmed that DGCA and airline representatives assured compliance during the meeting.
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said air safety was a central point of discussion. “The black box investigation into the AI-171 Dreamliner crash is ongoing. Despite the Boeing 787’s reputation as one of the safest aircraft, this tragedy must not be taken lightly,” he said, adding that the Buddhist Circuit and its interconnectivity via air travel was also discussed.
NCP MP Praful Patel reassured the public, stating, “There’s no need to panic. Indian aviation is largely safe. But DGCA is facing a shortage of top-level skilled manpower. We suggested bringing back retired experts temporarily to bridge this gap.”
The crash of Air India Flight AI-171 on June 12, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, shocked the nation. The aircraft — a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner — struck a hostel building at BJ Medical College, killing 241 of the 242 onboard, including former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani. According to officials, this is India’s first domestic decoding of black box data, with memory modules recovered and analysed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on June 25 in Delhi, using a “golden chassis” for verification.
The ongoing investigation includes experts from AAIB, Indian Air Force, HAL, and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Specialists in aviation medicine and air traffic control are also contributing to the probe.
In the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, tourists stranded in Kashmir reported exorbitant ticket prices, with airline websites either sold out or quoting sky-high fares. Screens displayed messages like “flights too close to departure”, “no flights available”, or “sold out.”
Reacting to public outrage, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Strict instructions were given to airlines to avoid any fare surges. Fares are being monitored and kept at reasonable levels.”
Despite the assurance, several Opposition MPs called for a special audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), citing lapses in oversight and passenger rights during national emergencies.
An economic and humanitarian concern, the PAC session highlighted the need for transparency in fare setting, strengthening aviation safety, and establishing fair practices for travelers during crisis events.