DGCA fines Air India Rs 1 crore for flying plane without valid certificate; orders removal of some post holders

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Air India Rs 1 crore for operating flights on an aircraft without a valid airworthiness certificate. The regulator has also directed some post holders from engineering be removed for this serious lapse, say sources.

The order issued by DGCA’s joint chief Maneesh Kumar to AI CEO Campbell Wilson said this lapse had “further eroded public confidence and adversely impacted the safety compliance of the organisation…… The accountable manager on behalf of Air India is found blameworthy for the above lapses.”

In a statement, AI said: “Air India acknowledges the receipt of a DGCA order in relation to an incident that was voluntarily reported back in 2025. All identified gaps have since been satisfactorily addressed and shared with the authority.”

On Dec 2, DGCA had issued a statement on this lapse. “Under delegated authority, Air India issues ‘airworthiness review certificate’ (ARC) for aircraft it operates. ARC is issued annually in respect of an aircraft after a comprehensive review of its maintenance records, physical condition and verification of compliance with all airworthiness standards. It acts as a validation of the aircraft’s main ‘certificate of airworthiness’ (C of A).”

In 2024, DGCA had decided to do the first first ARC renewal for Vistara’s 70 aircraft after the airline’s merged with AI. While the ARC for 69 aircraft was issued, one Airbus A320’s (VT-TQN) certificate was not issued and then it was grounded for engine change. But after getting the engine changed and without the ARC, AI released the aircraft for flights. “On Nov 26, 2025, (AI) informed DGCA about the flying of the aircraft on expired ARC for eight revenue sectors,” DGCA had said in its Dec 2 statement while ordering a probe. The same has now been completed and AI fined Rs 1 crore, along with being ordered to remove some potholders from engineering. It had then asked AI to conduct “internal investigation to identify deficiencies in their system and put corrective measures in place to prevent such failures from occurring in future.”

At that time last Dec, AI had issued a statement on this issue saying: “Air India remains unwavering in its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of operational integrity and safety, and any deviation from mandated compliance protocols is treated with utmost seriousness and is unacceptable to the organisation. An incident involving one of our aircraft operating without an airworthiness review certificate is regrettable. As soon as this came to our notice, it was duly reported to the DGCA and all personnel associated with the decision have been placed under suspension, pending further review. We have initiated a comprehensive internal investigation…”