Aviation sector plunged into crisis under Ram Mohan Naidu’s leadership, alleges YSRCP

Former Minister and YSRCP leader Gudivada Amarnath on Sunday sharply criticised Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Ram Mohan Naidu, alleging that the aviation sector has plunged into a severe crisis under his leadership.

Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP office in Maddilapalem, Mr. Amarnath said the ministry had failed to resolve problems arising from the implementation of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations(FDTL) norms, leading to mass flight cancellations and severe disruption for lakhs of passengers.

He said the Minister had not only failed to address issues with IndiGo Airlines but had also been unable to check the steep and unwarranted rise in air ticket prices. Mr. Amarnath said the scale of disruption was unprecedented in Indian or global aviation.

Referring to the June 12 air crash that claimed 232 passengers and nearly 30 medical students on the ground, he said the Minister had faced widespread criticism for allegedly shooting social media reels at the crash site. He said the ministry owed an apology to the public as lakhs of passengers had suffered in recent days. Mr. Amarnath accused the Minister of focusing on reels at the Bhogapuram International Airport site while ignoring major issues confronting the aviation sector. Even after the June crash, there was no seriousness, he said, adding that crucial works such as the Vijayawada Airport expansion under the Airport Authority of India were progressing at a snail’s pace.