<h1>Parliamentary panel warns staffing shortfalls threaten aviation safety; urges autonomy, capacity plan, enforcement, whistleblower protections</h1> A Parliamentary committee found that severe staffing shortfalls at the national aviation regulator constitute an 'existential' threat to safety and recommended time-bound administrative and financial autonomy to enable direct recruitment and capacity building. It urged a National Capacity Alignment Plan to synchronise airport infrastructure with airline fleet growth, a mechanism to close safety deficiencies (prioritising Level I issues), stronger enforcement including fines, mandatory root-cause analyses for runway incursions and other recurring high-risk events, uniform national rules and terrain-specific training for state-run helicopter operations, and statutory whistleblower protections to foster a just, non-punitive safety culture.