"No Ethanol in Flight Fuel!" Civil Aviation Minister Slams Rumours After Arvind Kejriwal Raises Flight Safety Alarm

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has forcefully shut down viral claims alleging that the Centre is planning to blend ethanol into Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), calling the reports "completely false and irresponsible." The official clarification came after AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal shared a social media post questioning whether mixing ethanol into jet fuel would compromise aircraft engines and risk passenger safety in mid-air.

Setting the record straight, the Minister stated that there is zero proposal to mix ethanol into aviation fuel. He explained that critics were wrongly confusing ethanol with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). While ethanol is used in road transport to blend with petrol, SAF is a specialized, globally recognized aviation fuel approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Unlike ordinary bio-fuels, SAF undergoes extensive, multi-level testing to meet the strictest international safety standards before ever reaching an aircraft fuel tank.

Urging political leaders and the public not to circulate misleading posts that trigger unnecessary fear among air travelers, the Civil Aviation Minister reaffirmed that passenger safety remains the government's top priority. Aviation fuel policies are strictly aligned with international civil aviation norms, ensuring that commercial flights operate only on fully certified, safe fuel mixtures.