India’s aviation regulator has launched an investigation after an airline operated an Airbus A320 aircraft on eight commercial flights without a valid airworthiness review certificate.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed it had grounded the aircraft and de-rostered “concerned personnel” following the discovery that Air India flew the A320 multiple times without the mandatory certification proving the aircraft met regulatory safety requirements.
Eight Flights Without Required Certification
The severity of the violation is compounded by the repetition—the aircraft was not operated once in oversight but eight separate times without valid airworthiness certification. Each flight carried passengers who were unknowingly aboard an aircraft that had not received regulatory approval to operate.
An airworthiness review certificate serves as official confirmation that an aircraft has undergone required inspections, meets maintenance standards, and complies with all applicable safety regulations. Operating without this certification represents a fundamental breach of aviation safety protocols.
DGCA Grounds Aircraft, Suspends Personnel
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s immediate response included:
- Grounding the specific Airbus A320 involved
- De-rostering concerned personnel responsible for the oversight failure
- Launching a formal investigation into how the aircraft was cleared for operation without valid certification
The swift regulatory action reflects the seriousness with which aviation authorities view documentation lapses that could compromise passenger safety, even if no actual safety incident occurred during the flights.
Air India Acknowledges “Regrettable” Incident
“An incident involving one of our aircraft operating without an airworthiness review certificate is regrettable,” an Air India spokesperson said in a statement, acknowledging the regulatory violation.
The airline added that it had suspended personnel involved in the decision, pending further review, indicating internal accountability measures beyond the regulatory sanctions imposed by DGCA.
What is an Airworthiness Review Certificate?
An airworthiness review certificate (ARC) is a critical aviation document that:
- Confirms an aircraft has undergone required inspections
- Verifies compliance with maintenance schedules
- Ensures the aircraft meets all applicable safety standards
- Must be renewed at specified intervals (typically annually)
- Is required before an aircraft can legally operate commercial flights
Without a valid ARC, an aircraft is legally unairworthy and prohibited from carrying passengers or cargo in commercial operations, regardless of its actual mechanical condition.
