New Delhi, India: India’s Civil Aviation Ministry now plans to relaunch seaplane operations across at least two domestic routes by October, confirmed Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Speaking at the Eastern Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference, Minister Naidu noted that while seaplane operations were previously limited to a single route, the government has now simplified the guidelines to ease relaunch efforts
These relaxed norms cover the setup of waterdromes, pilot training procedures, and operational regulations. Under the new rules, seaplanes can be deployed on any water body with a minimum depth of five feet and at least 200 meters of landing space.
The anticipated routes include locations across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Kerala, or Andhra Pradesh, with the potential for future extensions to Odisha’s Chilika Lake and other parts of the eastern coastline. Minister Naidu encouraged airline operators to seize this opportunity, highlighting its “huge potential” for improving connectivity. He also invited state governments to propose innovative locations to expand the seaplane network.
India’s seaplane services were initially launched in October 2020 by SpiceJet’s subsidiary, Spice Shuttle, with a 15-seater Twin Otter 300 aircraft operating between Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront and the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. The service aimed to enhance regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme, offering affordable travel options to remote destinations. The pandemic disrupted operations, and the airline faced challenges in procuring its own fleet of seaplanes. By April 2021, SpiceJet decided to discontinue the service, citing these operational reasons.
Additionally, Naidu pointed out the growing demand for pilots, revealing that 1,700 aircraft are currently on order, each requiring between 20 to 30 trained pilots. To meet this demand, India must generate approximately 3,000 pilots annually. To elevate training standards, the Ministry will introduce a ranking system for Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) starting in October.
The conference was officially inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, with other dignitaries such as Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mohol Murlidhar, Chhattisgarh Minister Om Prakash Choudhary, and senior civil aviation officials in attendance.
![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-768x432.jpg)
![Washington, United States: A United Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City made an emergency diversion to Washington Dulles International Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a cabin door at cruising altitude and assaulted another traveler, according to air traffic control communications and federal authorities. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1551, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening carrying 145 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft had been en route to Guatemala City when the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. According to audio between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, the pilot informed controllers that the disruptive passenger attempted to open Door 2L while the aircraft was cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. The pilot also reported that the passenger later assaulted another individual onboard. During the exchange, the tower asked the crew which door the passenger had attempted to access. The pilot responded: “Door 2L at 36,000 feet and then [the passenger] assaulted a fellow passenger.” When controllers asked whether there were any injuries onboard, the pilot replied: “Not to our knowledge.” The aircraft landed safely at Washington Dulles at approximately 8:38 p.m. local time. Law enforcement and emergency personnel met the aircraft upon arrival. The FBI later confirmed that agents responded to the incident at the airport, although the agency did not immediately release additional details regarding the passenger’s identity, possible charges, or whether the individual was taken into federal custody. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft remained airborne for a period before diverting toward the Washington region instead of continuing south toward Guatemala. The diversion temporarily disrupted the scheduled international service but no injuries among passengers or crew were officially reported. United Airlines had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of publication regarding the circumstances surrounding the diversion or the status of the passenger involved. Federal authorities are expected to review crew reports, passenger statements, and onboard evidence as part of the investigation.](https://aviationtoday.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AVIATION-TODAY-UNITEDV-AIRLINES-RUDE-PASSENGER-300x169.jpg)
