(LibertySociety.com) – Air India brazenly operated an Airbus A320 on eight commercial flights without a valid safety certificate, exposing hundreds of passengers to potentially deadly risks while regulators scrambled to contain the fallout.
Story Highlights
- Air India flew A320 aircraft eight times without mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate between November 24-25, 2025
- DGCA immediately grounded the aircraft and suspended all personnel who authorized the illegal flights
- Incident follows deadly June 2025 crash that killed over 270 people, intensifying scrutiny on Air India’s safety practices
- Airline waited until November 26 to notify regulators about the expired certificate after flights had already occurred
Regulatory Crackdown Following Safety Violations
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation launched an immediate investigation after discovering Air India operated flights without the mandatory annual Airworthiness Review Certificate. The regulatory body grounded the A320 aircraft and suspended all personnel responsible for authorizing the unauthorized flights. This swift enforcement action demonstrates the severity of operating commercial aircraft without proper safety certification, a fundamental breach that puts passenger lives at risk.
Pattern of Safety Lapses Emerges
The certificate violation occurred during an engine change when the aircraft’s safety certification expired but was still cleared for commercial service. Air India’s maintenance and operational teams failed to ensure proper documentation before releasing the aircraft back into passenger service. This administrative failure reveals systemic weaknesses in the airline’s safety oversight protocols, particularly concerning given the heightened scrutiny following earlier incidents.
Deadly Crash Context Intensifies Concerns
This safety certificate incident comes just months after Air India’s Boeing 737 crashed in Gujarat on June 12, 2025, killing over 270 people in one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters. The earlier tragedy prompted DGCA to order comprehensive inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, indicating broader safety management issues within the national carrier. Aviation experts warn that operating without valid certification represents serious regulatory non-compliance that undermines public trust in airline safety standards.
DGCA has mandated Air India conduct an internal review to identify systemic issues and implement preventive measures. The airline’s delayed notification to regulators until November 26, after completing all eight unauthorized flights, raises additional questions about transparency and accountability within the organization. This pattern of safety lapses threatens to damage India’s aviation reputation internationally while exposing passengers to unacceptable risks through regulatory shortcuts.
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