India and Russia Flag Rising Aircraft Safety Risks Amid Fleet Strain

Aviation regulators in both India and Russia are raising alarms over growing aircraft safety risks, as rapid traffic growth, workforce shortages, and geopolitical pressures place increasing strain on fleet maintenance and regulatory oversight.

In India, surveillance carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has found that nearly half of the country’s commercial passenger aircraft have experienced repeated technical defects. The findings stem from inspections conducted since January last year, covering India’s fleet of roughly 754 aircraft operated by major domestic carriers.

According to data provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the highest number of recurring defects was recorded in the fleet of Air India, followed by Air India Express and IndiGo. Similar patterns were identified at SpiceJet and newcomer Akasa Air, where around half of their aircraft were also flagged for repeated issues. Recent groundings at IndiGo and Air India linked to safety concerns have highlighted the operational impact of these findings.

While India’s aviation market has expanded rapidly in recent years, regulators acknowledge that maintenance capacity and oversight have struggled to keep pace. Compounding the issue is a significant staffing shortfall, with about 2,645 vacancies across civil aviation offices and regulatory bodies, raising concerns about the system’s ability to sustain effective surveillance as fleets continue to grow.

A parallel, though more acute, situation is unfolding in Russia. State Aviation Supervision of Russia has reported widespread safety violations across the country’s commercial fleet. Speaking at the NAIS-2026 forum, the agency’s head, Vladimir Kovalsky, said that between 2023 and 2025, more than 480 aircraft were grounded for varying periods until violations were corrected. That figure represents nearly half of Russia’s commercial fleet, estimated at around 1,100 aircraft.

Kovalsky warned of a dangerous trend in which technical malfunctions are increasingly being approved for flight, sometimes accompanied by falsified maintenance records. He described a mindset among some operators that violations are acceptable if they are perceived not to pose an immediate safety threat, a practice he said risks long-term degradation of safety standards.

Reports cited by Russian aviation watchdogs indicate instances of unauthorized modifications, upgrades, and structural repairs, along with fictitious maintenance work. Regulators say these practices are forcing tougher enforcement and more severe countermeasures.

Russia’s aviation safety challenges are being intensified by sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Restrictions on access to spare parts have made it difficult to maintain modern Airbus and Boeing aircraft, particularly A320neo-family jets, many of which are now grounded. To sustain capacity, airlines have reactivated older aircraft types such as Tu-204s, Il-96s, and even Boeing 747-400s, which are easier to maintain using second-hand parts.

At the same time, Russia’s efforts to replace ageing fleets with domestically produced aircraft have fallen far behind targets, while competition for industrial resources with the military further complicates recovery. Analysts warn that as more aircraft are retired and cannibalized for parts, pressure will increase to keep a shrinking fleet flying, accelerating wear and elevating long-term safety risks.

Together, developments in India and Russia underscore how fleet growth, regulatory capacity, and external pressures can converge to challenge aviation safety, even in large and strategically important air transport markets.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, businesstoday.in, aerospaceglobalnews.com