The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has imposed a ₹1 crore penalty on Air India for a serious safety lapse. The action followed the operation of an aircraft without meeting mandatory airworthiness requirements, raising concerns about regulatory compliance and oversight.
According to reports, an Airbus A320 operated several commercial flights despite lacking a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate. The aircraft reportedly flew eight routes between Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad during November 2025 without the required annual clearance.
The Airworthiness Review Certificate is a compulsory safety approval for all operational aircraft. Flying without it violates aviation regulations and puts safety systems under question. The lapse came to light during regulatory scrutiny by the aviation watchdog.
In its order dated February 5, the regulator stated that the violation weakened public confidence. It also flagged serious concerns regarding adherence to safety norms and internal monitoring mechanisms within the airline.
The document reportedly held Air India’s accountable manager, CEO Campbell Wilson, responsible for the oversight failure. The regulator pointed to gaps in supervision that allowed the aircraft to remain operational without valid certification.
Air India acknowledged the penalty and stated that the issue had been voluntarily disclosed earlier. The airline said corrective measures were implemented after the lapse was identified by internal checks.
The aircraft, which was earlier operated by Vistara, was grounded immediately after disclosure. It was returned to service only after the Airworthiness Review Certificate was renewed and regulatory conditions were met.
An internal investigation reportedly revealed systemic issues. These included weak compliance checks and deviations at the pilot level. The findings suggested broader procedural lapses rather than an isolated error.
This incident adds to increasing regulatory scrutiny of Air India following recent safety related concerns. While the airline maintains corrective steps have been taken, repeated lapses risk weakening passenger trust over time.
