India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate Basic of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has imposed a penalty of $110,350 (about ₹1 crore) on Air India for working an plane on eight flights with no legitimate airworthiness allow, in accordance with a confidential order reported by Reuters.
The regulator discovered that an Airbus A320 carried out passenger flights on November 24-25, 2025, with no legitimate Airworthiness Evaluate Certificates (ARC) — a compulsory annual clearance issued solely after an plane passes security and compliance checks, the report added citing a confidential order.
As per the report, in its February 5 order addressed to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, DGCA Joint Director Basic Maneesh Kumar stated the lapse had: “additional eroded public confidence and adversely impacted the security compliance of the organisation.”
An inner investigation by Air India attributed the incident to “systemic failures” and acknowledged the necessity to strengthen compliance oversight, it added.
The probe additionally reportedly held pilots accountable for not following commonplace working procedures earlier than take-off.
In a press release, Air India stated, “Air India acknowledges the receipt of a DGCA order in relation to an incident that was voluntarily reported again in 2025. All recognized gaps have since been satisfactorily addressed and shared with the authority. Air India stays unwavering in its dedication to sustaining the best requirements of operational integrity and security.”
The regulatory motion comes amid elevated scrutiny of the airline following its deadliest latest accident in June 2025, when a Boeing Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 individuals.
India’s accident investigator, the Plane Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), on February 12 pushed again in opposition to media stories suggesting the crash probe had been concluded.
The bureau stated such claims have been “incorrect and speculative”, including: “The investigation continues to be in progress. No last conclusions have been reached.”
AAIB famous that investigations are being carried out beneath the Plane (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Guidelines, 2025, and consistent with obligations beneath Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO) Annex 13, which governs world accident-investigation requirements.
The clarification adopted a report by Italian every day Corriere della Sera claiming investigators had decided the crash was not brought on by a technical defect however by an “intentional act.”
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