New Delhi— Aviation regulator DGCA has launched an investigation after Air India operated an A320 neo aircraft on at least eight routes without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). The airline has de-rostered all personnel responsible until the probe is completed, officials said on Tuesday.
Air India informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on November 26 that the aircraft had flown revenue sectors despite its ARC having expired. Under aviation norms, an ARC must be renewed every year after a thorough examination of maintenance records, physical inspection, and verification of compliance with airworthiness standards. It serves as a validation of an aircraft’s main Certificate of Airworthiness.
The DGCA said the airline, which is authorised to issue ARCs for its fleet, has been asked to conduct a parallel internal review to identify system lapses and introduce corrective mechanisms to avoid recurring failures. The regulator has also instructed Air India to ground the aircraft while the ARC renewal process is completed.
The aircraft involved earlier belonged to Vistara and became part of Air India’s fleet following the merger in November 2024. The DGCA noted that after the merger, the first ARC renewal for all Vistara aircraft was to be handled directly by the regulator.
According to officials, DGCA has already issued ARCs for sixty-nine aircraft post-merger after satisfactory compliance. The seventieth aircraft had its renewal application filed, but it was grounded for an engine replacement. During this period, the ARC expired, yet the aircraft was released for service after the engine change, prompting regulatory scrutiny.
The investigation is ongoing, and the regulator has stressed the importance of strict adherence to airworthiness protocols for ensuring passenger safety.
