The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation and grounded an Air India aircraft after it operated eight commercial flights with an expired Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), raising serious safety concerns.
“On November 26, the operator (Air India) informed DGCA about the flying of the aircraft on the expired ARC for eight revenue sectors… DGCA has instituted an investigation and instructed the operator to ground the aircraft,” the civil aviation regulator said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The DGCA said the personnel concerned have been de-rostered with immediate effect pending completion of the inquiry. Acting on the regulator’s directions, Air India has also initiated an internal probe to identify gaps in its system and “put corrective measures in place to prevent such failures from occurring in future”, the DGCA added.
“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 and are fully cooperating with the regulator," an Air India spokesperson said.
{{/usCountry}}“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 and are fully cooperating with the regulator," an Air India spokesperson said.
{{/usCountry}}Under delegated authority, Air India normally issues ARCs for aircraft it operates. The certificate is renewed annually after a review of maintenance records, the physical condition of the aircraft and verification of compliance with all airworthiness standards, and serves as a validation of the aircraft’s main Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A).
“Following the Vistara–Air India merger, however, it was decided in 2024 that the first ARC renewal for all 70 Vistara aircraft would be carried out by the DGCA. The regulator has so far issued ARCs for 69 of them,” the DGCA said.
Explaining the lapse, the regulator said the seventieth aircraft had been submitted for ARC renewal, but was later grounded for an engine change. The ARC expired during this period, and the aircraft was released for service after the engine replacement, with Air India continuing to operate it. The DGCA said the renewal process is ongoing and the investigation will determine responsibility for the lapse.
“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,” the airline said.