Early Times Report
Jammu, June 13: Yesterday’s tragic crash of the London-bound Air India flight 787 has left the nation in shock and mourning. The loss of innocent lives, dreams cut short mid-air, and families shattered forever, demand not only our grief but also serious introspection. Investigations are going on. If technical snag was a key cause of the crash, it raises an urgent and troubling question: Who was responsible for certifying the aircraft as airworthy?
Airlines operate on trust. Passengers board flights with the implicit belief that every protocol has been followed, every technical check completed, and every safety standard met. They are required to submit declarations, comply with stringent baggage rules, undergo security screening, and follow in-flight instructions with diligence. Shouldn’t the same rigour and accountability be expected—demanded—from the airlines?
The truth is stark: passengers are innocent consumers. They do not possess the expertise to inspect engines or verify maintenance logs. They simply pay the fare as prescribed and expect to arrive safely at their destination. That expectation, at the very least, deserves a written assurance from the airline that the aircraft they are boarding has been thoroughly inspected, approved by competent technical authorities, and deemed safe for take-off.
If the fault lies with a single negligent technician, then he must be held accountable. If it is a systemic lapse or a team failure, then the entire technical crew, including supervisors and certifiers, share the blame. If the reason is something else, surely it will come out. What cannot and must not happen is the shifting of responsibility away from those whose duty it was to prevent such a disaster.
Today, people are scared to fly. The recent incident has rekindled deep fears in the minds of passengers and their families. Every goodbye at the departure gate now carries an undercurrent of dread: Will this be the last one?
In light of this tragedy, it is time for the Airport Authority of India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to consider a new, urgent policy:
A mandatory, passenger-accessible, pre-flight safety assurance—declaring that the aircraft has passed all technical checks, signed off by the responsible authorities.
This is not about ticket pricing, baggage allowance, or inflight meals. This is about human lives. About men, women, and children who fly not expecting to vanish into flames or fall from the sky—but to safely touch ground at the other end of their journey.
It is time to make safety visible. Let trust in our skies not be blind—but informed, certified, and earned. |
