Data: Flying Training Institutes and Non-Scheduled Operators Account for Majority of Air Accidents in India
According to AAIB, a total of 102 accidents and 121 serious incidents were investigated by the body from July 2012 to April 2025. Flying training institutes accounted for a high number of accidents, with the highest number reported in 2022, with 7 accidents out of the total 15 reported between 2011 and 2023.
On 12 June 2025, Air India Flight AI 171 crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, killing everyone on board except one survivor. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was bound for London Gatwick with more than 240 passengers and crew, including nationals of India, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada. Minutes after departure, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed in the Meghani Nagar area near the airport, striking a hostel building within the B.J. Medical College and Civil Hospital campus. The crash caused a massive fire, led to the deaths of nearly all on board, and resulted in significant damage to the surrounding area. Several students in the hostel were also killed or injured. The incident has brought renewed attention to the state of aircraft safety and regulatory oversight in India, particularly at a time when the country’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly.
Datasets on accidents and serious incidents in India, as reported by AAIB and DGCA, are available on Dataful.
Marked decline in aircraft accidents and fatalities worldwide in the last two decades
Between 2005 and 2024, a total of 1,468 accidents occurred globally, as reported by the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) dashboard. Among these accidents, 262 were fatal, resulting in the loss of around 8,349 lives. From 2005 to 2009, the annual number of reported accidents exceeded 100, leading to over 776 deaths on average each year. However, these numbers have steadily decreased over time, with an average of 39 accidents per year and approximately 144 lives lost annually between 2020 and 2024. During this period, a significant reduction in accident rates has been recorded, from 3.72 accidents per million sectors in 2005 to 1.13 accidents per million sectors in 2024.
AAIB and DGCA maintain data on aircraft accidents
In India, data on accidents and serious incidents is maintained by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with the AAIB serving as the primary agency responsible for investigating such occurrences.
According to the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, an accident is an occurrence where severe outcomes, such as fatalities, serious injuries, or significant aircraft damage are involved or if the aircraft becomes missing or completely inaccessible. Based on this definition, the recent crash of Air India Flight AI 171 is classified as an accident. A similar classification was applied in the 2021 helicopter crash that led to the death of General Bipin Rawat, India’s Chief of Defence Staff.
A serious incident is an occurrence that has the potential to result in an accident but does not lead to severe consequences. An example would be a near miss between two aircraft during landing or take-off, where corrective action prevented an accident.
Only accidents and occurrences that tick certain criteria are investigated by AAIB
The responsibility of investigating aviation occurrences in India is clearly defined by their classification and circumstances. Accidents, as outlined in the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, are investigated by the AAIB under Rule 11. This ensures that all accidents undergo thorough, independent scrutiny to determine their causes and contributing factors.
Serious incidents involving aircraft over 2,250 kg or turbojet aeroplanes also fall under AAIB’s jurisdiction. In contrast, incidents involving aircraft weighing 2,250 kg or less are investigated by the DGCA under Rule 13, unless the AAIB deems it necessary to take over. Additionally, Rule 12 empowers the Central Government to initiate a formal investigation into any accident involving an Indian-registered aircraft, led by a competent individual, with AAIB investigators and other technical experts serving as assessors.
AAIB follows a structured process to investigate aviation accidents and publish findings
Once an occurrence is assigned for investigation, the AAIB appoints an Investigator-in-Charge to lead the process. Initial actions involve notifying relevant national and international authorities, followed by rapid deployment of investigators to the site to collect perishable evidence such as wreckage patterns, flight recorders, witness accounts, and surveillance data. The team then evaluates the need for detailed technical examinations or specialised expertise. Accredited representatives from other states may participate if the aircraft is foreign-registered or manufactured abroad. The collected data is analysed to identify causes and contributing safety issues. A draft report is prepared and shared with concerned states for comments under ICAO Annex 13 provisions. After internal review and necessary revisions, the final report is approved by the Director General, AAIB, and made public. It is also circulated to relevant authorities, including the DGCA, for action on the safety recommendations.
More than 100 accidents have been investigated by AAIB between 2012 and 2025
According to AAIB, a total of 102 accidents and 121 serious incidents were investigated by the body from July 2012 to April 2025. The greatest number of accidents investigated in a year was in 2022, with 12 accidents, followed by 10 each in 2023, 2019, and 2015. The number of serious incidents investigated by AAIB rose from 5 in 2015 to 27 in 2019. Since 2019, the number has dropped.
The figures reported by the Directorate of Air Safety under DGCA are slightly different for some years. The total number of accidents reported by DGCA stood at 92 between 2013 and 2023, while that by AAIB was 94. The number of serious incidents was 113 as reported by AAIB, while during the same period, it was 123 by the DGCA.
Flying training institutes and non-scheduled operators account for the majority of air accidents
DGCA’s data by type of operator shows that scheduled operators accounted for the majority of the serious incidents. Scheduled operators usually run their aircraft according to a schedule. Meanwhile, non-scheduled operators accounted for a majority of the accidents, even though the number has come down over the years. Flying training institutes are also responsible for a high number of accidents, with the highest number reported in 2022, with 7 accidents out of the total 15 reported between 2011 and 2023.
Final report on air accidents takes time
The Air India crash in Ahmedabad is among the most fatal aviation accidents India has witnessed in recent years, both in terms of passenger casualties and the loss of life on the ground. Given its scale and complexity, the incident warrants a detailed and methodical investigation, as outlined above. While the AAIB has initiated the process, it is important to note that such investigations typically take time. The final report on the Air India Express crash in Kozhikode (2020) took nearly a year to be published, and the Mangalore crash (2010) report was completed in just over five months. A similar timeline may be expected in this case. The findings will be crucial in identifying any systemic gaps and in informing future safety measures, both for operators and regulators.