Congress attacks government for permitting ethanol in aircraft fuel

The Congress on Thursday (April 23, 2026) criticised the government over allegedly permitting use of ethanol in aviation turbine fuel (ATF), calling the move a potential risk to aviation safety though the method in question is different from the blending method used in automobiles, internationally approved and has already been used on a commercial flight.

On Wednesday (April 22), the Petroleum Ministry issued a notification expanding the definition of ATF used in flights to include fuel blended with “synthesised hydrocarbons”, effectively opening the door to alternative fuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The notification does not grant any specific approval for ethanol use, even though ethanol is one of several recognised pathways for producing SAF. Other feedstocks and routes include used cooking oil, animal fats, municipal solid waste, agricultural residues, bio-waste, and e-SAF.