MP Mittal Calls for Enhanced Aviation Safety Standards After Recent Incidents

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In the wake of recent aviation incidents, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, a Member of Parliament (MP) in India’s upper house, the Rajya Sabha, has raised critical questions regarding civil aviation safety norms. On Thursday, July 24, 2025, during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Mittal specifically addressed the need for a feasibility report on improving infrastructure at airports, particularly focusing on the safety of landings. His concerns follow the tragic AI-171 plane crash on June 12, which claimed 260 lives, and a recent incident involving IndiGo flight 6E-2482 at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.

Dr. Mittal, who is also the founder-chancellor of Lovely Professional University (LPU) Phagwara, highlighted the limitations of Patna airport’s runway, which, at 1,617 meters, is deemed insufficient for both wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing 777s and 787s and narrow-body jets such as the A320 and B737, which typically require runway lengths between 2,500 and 3,000 meters. The IndiGo flight incident saw the aircraft touch down ahead of the designated point and abort its landing due to overshooting before completing a second attempt. This event underscored the pressing need for infrastructure evaluation.

Addressing Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP inquired whether a feasibility study was underway to enhance the airport’s infrastructure and what steps the government was taking to ensure safer landings for larger aircraft. Minister Naidu acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, noting that existing land constraints, such as the proximity to a clock tower and a railway station, suggest that future solutions might involve proposals for an entirely new airport.

This parliamentary intervention by MP Mittal emphasizes the ongoing attention to aviation safety in India. As air travel continues to grow, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to meet evolving safety requirements remains a paramount concern. The discussion highlights the government’s recognition of these challenges and the potential for long-term solutions, including the possibility of new airport developments, to bolster the nation’s aviation safety framework.