A decade on from the Air India Express tragedy at Mangalore, UK aviation experts are pressing for a fundamental overhaul of cockpit safety protocols worldwide. The crash, which claimed 158 lives on 22 May 2010, was attributed to pilot fatigue and inadequate crew resource management. In a report published today, the London-based Flight Safety Foundation argues that the current regulatory framework is ‘a patchwork of national interests that fails to address systemic risks’.
The industry, they note, has seen a 40% rise in ‘loss of control in-flight’ incidents over the past five years. ‘We are flying blind on safety,’ said Sir James Henderson, former director of the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch. ‘The market has priced in a level of risk that is simply unacceptable.
Investors should be demanding better governance, just as they would with any other capital-intensive industry.’ The report recommends mandatory fatigue risk management systems, enhanced flight data monitoring, and independent safety audits for all carriers. ‘The cost of inaction is measured in lives, not just pounds,’ added Henderson.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has yet to comment, but the Treasury is understood to be concerned about the potential impact on insurance premiums and liability. For the markets, the message is clear: safety is the ultimate bottom line.
