The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of approximately ₹1 crore (USD 110,350) on Air India. The reason given was that the airline flew an Airbus aircraft eight times without a valid airworthiness permit. According to a confidential order of the regulator, this lapse has further eroded public confidence in the airline.
The penalty pertains to Airbus’ A320 aircraft, which carried passengers on multiple sectors between Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad on November 24 and 25. The investigation found that the aircraft did not have the mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) during these flights. ARC is issued every year by DGCA after completion of security and compliance checks.
Air India issued a statement saying, “Air India acknowledges receipt of the DGCA order relating to a voluntarily reported incident in 2025. All deficiencies identified have been satisfactorily addressed and shared with the authority. Air India’s commitment towards maintaining the highest standards of operational integrity and safety remains unwavering.”
The airline’s internal investigation report, released in December, noted systemic failures and an urgent need to strengthen its compliance culture. In a confidential penalty order issued on February 5, the DGCA addressed Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and said, “This incident further undermines public confidence and adversely impacts the safety compliance posture of the organization.” The order also said, “The managers accountable on behalf of Air India have been found guilty of the above lapses. The airline is directed to deposit ₹1 crore within 30 days.”
Regulatory surveillance on Air India has increased during this period. Special attention has been paid to safety procedures after the Boeing Dreamliner crashed just after take off from Ahmedabad airport in June last year, killing 260 people.
The internal review of the Airbus incident also highlighted the role of the pilots. According to the report, the pilots who operated these eight flights did not follow standard operating procedures before departure. In recent months, Tata Group and Singapore Airlines-owned Air India have also received DGCA warnings over deficiencies in checking emergency equipment and other audit-related lapses.
The regulator has indicated that it will continue to take strict action against any lapses related to safety and compliance, so as to maintain passenger safety and confidence in the aviation system.
Also read:
T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan team’s coaching staff member suffers heart attack
Conspiracy to murder Pannu during Biden’s hosting of state dinner for PM Modi
“Rahul Gandhi’s false narrative to provoke farmers”
Comments are closed.