Air Safety Whistleblower Exposes Serious Violations of Flight Safety Rules

As the latest Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad focuses attention on air safety, one person who has taken it upon herself to ensure safety in Mumbai is former air traffic controller and air safety officer S Mangala. Mangala, a self-effacing woman, was posted in Mumbai by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and took it upon herself to reject several applications from builders seeking permission for their projects in the flight path, citing clear air safety rules. However, her orders were superseded by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA), prompting her to become a whistleblower and expose serious violations of air safety rules.

Key Takeaways:

• S Mangala, a former air traffic controller and air safety officer, has been fighting for air safety in Mumbai for over a decade, despite facing opposition from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
• Mangala's fight for air safety began after a childhood incident in which her brother, an air force navigator, was involved in an accident that killed several colleagues. This incident left a deep impression on her, and she cleared exams to become an ATC with the mission of ensuring flight safety.
• Mangala has identified four categories of air safety issues in Mumbai, including unsafe runway conditions, violations of international civil aviation safety organisation rules, tall buildings within a 20km radius of the airport, and non-reporting of air safety incidents.
• According to Mangala, more than 85% of accidents take place during take-off or landing when the reaction time for the pilot is very less.
• An AAI / MIAL obstacle survey in 2010-11 revealed 439 obstacles on the take-off and landing paths alone, while a 2020 survey revealed 1,140 obstacles in the narrow take-off and landing funnels.
• Mangala was dismissed by the AAI after she was allowed to file a petition in the Bombay High Court to expose air safety violations. She has challenged her dismissal and is certain of winning because her fight is for air safety.

Statistics:

• More than 85% of accidents take place during take-off or landing when the reaction time for the pilot is very less.
• 439 obstacles on the take-off and landing paths were revealed in the AAI / MIAL obstacle survey in 2010-11.
• 1,140 obstacles in the narrow take-off and landing funnels were revealed in the 2020 survey.
• Mangala's fight for air safety has spanned over a decade, despite facing opposition from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Sources:

• Excerpts from an interview conducted by the FPJ in March 2023.
• Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd. (2025).
• Contify.com (no date).