CPI MP Viswam writes to Scindia, raises concern over ‘woeful’ security circumstances of airways

By PTI

NEW DELHI: CPI MP Binoy Viswam has written to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia elevating concern over the “woeful and dire” security circumstances of airways following a slew of incidents reported over the previous few weeks.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause discover on Wednesday to SpiceJet after its planes had eight technical malfunctions over the previous 18 days.

Like SpiceJet, IndiGo and Vistara additionally suffered technical malfunction incidents on Tuesday.

Viswam urged the minister to make sure a “comprehensive review” of airways throughout the nation and that there is no such thing as a compromise on the security of passengers.

“This letter is written regarding the woeful and dire safety conditions in which airlines are currently operating in the country,” he mentioned.

The Left chief mentioned there have been a number of security incidents and emergency landings that has occurred previously few months.

“There have been around 21 mid-air safety incidents across different airlines, out of which 10 of them have occurred in the last month alone,” he mentioned.

“Along with this, multiple airlines have faced malfunctions such as non-operation of air conditioning which led to suffocation of passengers with medical conditions. Such a sorry state of affairs is unpardonable and creates tensions among the already apprehensive population regarding air travel,” he added.

He alleged that these points are a “stark reminder that a meagre 4% of the population use air travel, placing India alongside some poorer African countries, in terms of the per capita consumption of air tickets.”

“The rising burden of airline with increasing cost of aviation fuel, further casts doubt in our mind regarding the compromise of safety procedures as a cost-cutting measure,” the CPI chief mentioned.

This, nevertheless, can’t be handled as an excuse to comprise on passenger security, he asserted.

“In the light of the above, I urge you to ensure a comprehensive review and audit of airlines across the country. The safety and well-being of passengers cannot be comprised under any circumstances,” he mentioned.