Major lapse: Air India grounds A320 after flying 8 flights with expired safety certificate; staff suspended
PTC Web Desk: Air India has grounded one of its Airbus A320 aircraft after it was found operating several flights in November without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), a mandatory document needed for any commercial aircraft to fly. The issue was detected through the airline’s own internal checks, following which all staff involved were suspended.
The airline said the lapse was discovered internally and immediately reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Calling the incident “regrettable,” Air India said it remains committed to strict safety standards and has begun a detailed internal investigation.
An ARC confirms that an aircraft continues to meet airworthiness requirements and is issued after a yearly review of its condition, maintenance records and compliance with safety norms. In this case, the A320 aircraft completed multiple flights without the updated document.
In its statement, the DGCA said Air India has the authority to issue ARCs for its fleet. Following the Vistara–Air India merger, the regulator had decided that the first ARC renewal for all 70 former Vistara aircraft would be done directly by DGCA. Out of these, 69 aircraft received renewed ARCs after meeting all requirements.
For the 70th aircraft, the operator had applied for renewal, but it was grounded for an engine replacement. During this time, the ARC expired. Once the engine change was completed, the aircraft was released for service, despite not having the updated ARC.
The DGCA said Air India informed the regulator on November 26, that the aircraft had flown eight commercial flights during this period. The regulator has now ordered a full investigation, grounded the aircraft and confirmed that the ARC renewal process is underway. All Air India personnel concerned have been removed from flight duties until the inquiry is completed.
The DGCA has also asked Air India to review its internal systems and ensure such mistakes do not happen again.
Air India has acknowledged the incident and suspended the staff involved. The airline said it is carrying out an extensive internal inquiry and is cooperating fully with the DGCA.
- With inputs from agencies
