Civil Aviation Ministry

A Russian aeroplane received a bomb threat, following which the Indian Civil Aviation Department alerted at the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Aiport, On October 14, morning, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) received an e-mail warning of a bomb on the flight, with 386 passengers and 14 crew members, who were evacuated immediately. Furthermore, an investigation is also underway in this regard.

In between July 2021- June 2022, Indian aircraft faced 478 technical snags, revealed Union Civil Aviation Minister VK Singh, in the Rajya Sabha. Of all the crafts, Air India faced maximum, 184 glitches. "A total of 478 technical snags were reported in the last one-year w.e.f. July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022," said Singh. Besides Air India, Indigo reported 98 glitches, followed by Spicejet (77,) being third on the list.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced resumption of international flights from March 27, lifting the ban imposed amid COVID-19 pandemic after two years. "Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from 27.03.2022, i.e. Start of Summer Schedule 2022,' read an official statement. Meanwhile, the air bubble arrangements and other several restriction… read-more

The Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on December 9, announced extending the ban on international flights till January 31. The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry decided to extend the ban in view of Covid-19's new variant Omicron. However, the flight operation under Vande Bharat, selected routes with lower cases of Covid-19. Initially, the international flights were scheduled to resume from December 15.

What could be called a gladsome development, a previously defunct WW-II airstrip in Assam has become operational. The airstrip, Rupsi Airport, has been redeveloped under the Centre's UDAN scheme that aims to improve regional air-connectivity across India. Interestingly, the airport was a a strategic WW-II airstrip that used to house warplanes. Notably, it witnessed the last commercial flight operation in 1983 before being closed.