An Indian parliamentary report, tabled on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, warns that a “profound and persistent shortage” of personnel at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) poses an “existential threat” to flight safety. The report, commissioned in the wake of a recent Air India plane crash, states that with nearly half of its sanctioned posts vacant, the DGCA is reportedly unable to fulfill its mandate. The panel also highlights other systemic vulnerabilities, including overworked air traffic controllers, and recommends that the regulator be granted full financial and administrative autonomy to address the crisis.