Praful Patel says staff crunch in civil aviation body

A Parliamentary Public Accounts Panel meeting on aviation issues has been held, where former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel raised concerns about flight safety. Patel highlighted that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is understaffed, particularly at top levels with skilled workers. He suggested rehiring retired DGCA personnel to address the immediate crisis and restore public trust in the aviation industry. The meeting, originally scheduled to discuss airport levy charges, saw participation from key aviation stakeholders including Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson, DGCA, AAI, and AIRAF officials. Parliamentarians raised questions about air safety and compliance issues, especially in light of recent incidents.