Hardeep Puri said number of air misses has considerably come down (File)

India has one of the better air safety indicators in the world as aircraft accidents in the country in 2019 were just 0.82 per million flights as compared to the global average of 3.02, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

On August 7, an Air India Express flight from Dubai with 190 people overshot the tabletop runway during landing at the Kozhikode airport in heavy rain and fell into a valley 35 feet below and broke into two, killing 18 people, including the pilots.

Mr Puri said on Twitter: "Regardless of the motivated narrative on India''s aviation safety record, I would reiterate that we have one of the better safety records/indicators in the world."

Aircraft accidents in India in 2019 were just 0.82 per million flights as compared to the global average of 3.02, he noted.

"This can be understood better when we compare it to corresponding indicator in India which was 2.8 per million flights in 2014," he stated.

We take all measures to ensure aviation safety, he said.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India have taken positive steps to further strengthen the aviation safety infrastructure in the country, he added. About 1000 air traffic controllers have been recruited during the last three years taking their number to 3,263, Mr Puri stated.

"Number of air misses has considerably come down from 35 in 2018 to 18 in 2019. There have only been 3 such cases in 2020 till now," he mentioned.

Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to improve India's aviation safety ratings and provide statutory status to regulatory institutions, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"In the amended Aircraft Bill as passed by Rajya Sabha today, the maximum penalty for any act in contravention of the provisions of the Rule has been enhanced from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 1 crore. Further, the regulator has been empowered to impose the penalty," Mr Puri said in a tweet.

"Some Hon'bl members enquired during RS session today as to why the regulator had not imposed fines on operators despite finding deficiencies in the past. I want to inform my esteemed colleagues that power to impose penalties vested with Hon'ble courts before today''s amendment," he said in another tweet.

Akshay Kumar and Aarav in a throwback pic (courtesy akshaykumar)

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna shared adorable birthday posts for their son Aarav on his 18th birthday. While Twinkle's birthday greeting for Aarav arrived in the evening, Akshay posted slightly late at night but his was surely the cherry on top. Sharing a throwback photo, featuring Aarav as a young kid, Akshay began his post by writing: "Can't believe this day has come. Happy 18th birthday to my boy! Big or small I will carry you in my arms until it's time for you to carry me." Describing Aarav as one who is ahead of his dad in many ways, Akshay Kumar wrote: "Now you're taller than me, more handsome than me, with a heart 10 x the size of mine." Akshay wrapped his birthday post for Aarav with these words: "The world can only benefit from you being in it. All my love, hugs and prayers, your loving father."

Akshay Kumar's birthday wish for son Aarav took the cake. Take a look.

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Can't believe this day has come 🙈 Happy 18th Birthday to My Boy!! Big or small I will carry you in my arms until it's time for you to carry me 🤗 Now you're taller than me, more handsome than me, with a Heart 10 x the size of mine. The world can only benefit from you being in it. All my love, hugs & prayers, your loving father ❤️

A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Sep 15, 2020 at 9:58am PDT

Earlier in the day, Twinkle Khanna shared an ROFL photo from Aarav's birthday celebrations and attached an emotionally heavy note to it. Twinkle, who has a way with words, shared what she has been wanting to tell Aarav for a while: "All these years, you have been as much my teacher as I have been yours. I learned optimism, kindness and wonder from you as I taught you maths, a few manners and how to switch the lights off when you leave the room. But looking at you growing up and listening to you repeatedly tell me how much you are looking forward to your independence, I have started realizing that when you finally leave my home, my world and step into your own, my lights will go off automatically and my world will be filled with a bleak darkness. Though whenever you return for a visit, I will light numerous diyas and pretend that this is not a permanent power failure; we are just celebrating Diwali."

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Happy 18th birthday Aarav! Here is something I had written for you once and to keep loosening the strings and finally cutting them off this year has not been easy. All these years you have been as much my teacher as I have been yours. I learned optimism, kindness and wonder from you as I taught you maths, a few manners and how to switch the lights off when you leave the room. But looking at you growing up and listening to you repeatedly tell me how much you are looking forward to your independence, I have started realizing that when you finally leave my home, my world and step into your own, my lights will go off automatically and my world will be filled with a bleak darkness. Though whenever you return for a visit, I will light numerous diyas and pretend that this is not a permanent power failure; we are just celebrating Diwali. I am already missing the little boy you were but am so proud of the man you have become. #MamaBear #MoustacheMusketeers

A post shared by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) on Sep 15, 2020 at 4:26am PDT

Twinkle Khanna's cousin Karan Kapadia wished Aarav with a throwback post: "Happy birthday little man, can't believe this was 10 years ago and you're 18 now," he wrote.

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Happy Birthday little man, can't believe this was 10 years ago and you're 18 now 🤯 . I love you and I'm proud of everything you have and are going to accomplish ❤️

A post shared by Karan Kapadia (@karankapadiaofficial) on Sep 14, 2020 at 10:37pm PDT

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna are also parents to daughter Nitara, who was born in 2012. Akshay is currently in London with his family for his work schedule.