The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched an Air India safety certificate probe on Monday after the airline operated an Airbus A320 on eight revenue sectors without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). The lapse occurred between 24 and 25 November 2025. Regulators grounded the aircraft immediately. Personnel involved face suspension pending outcomes. Air India reported the issue internally on 26 November 2025. This incident raises questions on post-merger oversight for the flag carrier.
The Air India safety certificate probe underscores vulnerabilities in aviation compliance during rapid fleet integrations. In South Asia, where air travel surges with economic growth, such lapses erode public trust in regional carriers. India handles over 150 million passengers yearly, per International Air Transport Association data. Pakistan and Bangladesh report similar scrutiny on safety protocols amid rising routes. A breach here could ripple across shared airspace, prompting calls for harmonised standards from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation aviation forum. Stakeholders view this as a test for DGCA’s enforcement amid Air India’s expansion under Tata Group ownership.
DGCA Air India Investigation Targets Systemic Gaps
The DGCA Air India investigation focuses on how the aircraft entered service post-maintenance without ARC renewal. Under normal rules, airlines issue ARCs annually after reviewing maintenance logs, physical inspections and regulatory adherence. This validates the primary Certificate of Airworthiness. Air India holds delegated authority for its fleet. Yet, for the 70 Vistara aircraft absorbed in the 2024 merger, DGCA assumed first renewals to ensure uniformity.
Sixty-nine aircraft cleared checks and received fresh ARCs. The 70th, a 164-seat Airbus A320 neo, filed for renewal but entered unscheduled maintenance for an engine change. The ARC expired during this downtime. Engineers released it for flights on 24 November without flagging the lapse. It covered eight domestic sectors over two days before detection.
A Ministry of Civil Aviation press release on 2 December 2025 detailed the timeline. “On 26 November 2025, the operator informed DGCA about the flying of the aircraft on the expired ARC for eight revenue sectors,” it stated. “DGCA has ordered an investigation and instructed the operator to ground the aircraft. ARC process is in progress. Personnel concerned have been de-rostered with immediate effect pending investigation.”
DGCA directed Air India to probe internal processes. This includes audit trails for certificate tracking and staff training on compliance. Aviation experts note that digital systems should alert on expiries three months ahead. The regulator may classify this as a Level 1 violation, its severest for safety risks, potentially leading to fines up to INR 10 million or operational curbs.
Air India A320 Expired Certificate: Merger Fallout Exposed
The Air India A320 expired certificate incident ties directly to Vistara integration strains. The merger, cleared in 2024, blended 70 narrow-body jets into Air India’s 200-plus fleet. DGCA’s oversight aimed to prevent disruptions during the shift. Yet, this case highlights coordination shortfalls between airline engineers and regulatory filings.
Air India confirmed the aircraft’s history in a spokesperson statement on 2 December 2025. “An incident involving one of our aircraft operating without an airworthiness review certificate is regrettable,” it read. “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.”
The A320 neo, configured for 164 passengers, flew routine domestic routes. Specific airports remain undisclosed to avoid speculation. No incidents marred the flights, but the potential hazard loomed large. An expired ARC signals unverified airworthiness, risking undetected faults in critical systems like engines or hydraulics.
This marks the latest in a string of Air India scrutiny. In October 2025, DGCA fined the airline INR 5 million for crew rostering errors on international legs. Earlier probes followed the 12 June 2025 AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives and prompted fleet-wide audits. That tragedy, involving a Boeing 787, exposed maintenance delays. South Asian neighbours watched closely, with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority tightening inspections on IndiGo codeshares.
India Aviation Safety Lapse Air India: Broader Implications
The India aviation safety lapse Air India episode prompts wider regulatory reflection. DGCA’s probe extends beyond this aircraft to fleet-wide ARC protocols. Investigators will examine if software glitches or human error enabled the oversight. Air India must submit a corrective action plan within 30 days, including enhanced monitoring tools.
In South Asia, aviation safety lapses draw regional parallels. Bangladesh’s Biman airlines faced a 2024 grounding for similar certification delays. Sri Lanka’s post-crisis reforms emphasise annual audits. India’s market, valued at USD 15 billion in 2025 per CAPA Centre for Aviation, cannot afford trust erosion. Passengers from Pakistan to Nepal rely on Air India for 20% of cross-border traffic.
Data from DGCA’s 2024 annual report shows 99.8% on-time compliance for major carriers. Yet, post-merger flux tests this. The Air India safety certificate probe could spur mandatory digital dashboards for all operators. Unions call for whistleblower protections to flag issues early.
Air India’s response emphasises accountability. Suspended staff, including maintenance leads, await clearance. The airline grounded no other flights but accelerated remaining Vistara ARC renewals. CEO Campbell Wilson, in a 1 December internal memo leaked to media, stressed “zero tolerance for procedural deviations.”
Background
Air India’s transformation post-privatisation has boosted capacity by 30% since 2022. The Vistara tie-up added premium services but strained back-end operations. DGCA data logs 12 minor violations in 2025, up from eight in 2024. Globally, the International Civil Aviation Organisation rates India’s oversight at 85%, above South Asian average of 72%. Yet, incidents like this fuel demands for third-party audits.
The ARC process mandates 100-hour inspections pre-renewal. Costs run INR 2-5 million per aircraft, per industry estimates. Lapses here breach International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 8 standards, inviting international scrutiny.
What’s Next
The Air India safety certificate probe wraps preliminary findings by mid-December 2025. DGCA may impose training mandates or software upgrades. Air India eyes fleet recertification by January 2026. Regional forums discuss shared safety databases. Passengers should monitor flight statuses via official apps amid ongoing checks.
The dual probes aim to restore compliance. Air India pledges full transparency. Outcomes will shape merger lessons for peers like SpiceJet’s potential alliances.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 3rd, 2025
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