Air India probe reveals systemic failures led to Airbus A320 flying without permit

Air India's internal investigation has uncovered "systemic failures" that allowed an Airbus A320 aircraft to operate eight commercial passenger flights on November 24 and 25 without a mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). The flights connected major Indian cities including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, placing hundreds of passengers at significant safety risk. The ARC is an annual permit issued by the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following comprehensive safety and compliance checks.

The probe, detailed in a December 6 report reviewed by Reuters, identified critical lapses by both engineers and pilots who failed to verify the aircraft's essential documents. Specifically, the report highlighted that "critical information was not shared with all relevant stakeholders, and opportunities for timely intervention were missed," pointing to a broader need for improved process discipline, communication, and a strengthened compliance culture within the airline. This incident follows previous warnings to Air India regarding other operational and maintenance deficiencies.

In response to the "regrettable" incident, Air India, owned by India's Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has proactively reported the matter to the Indian DGCA and has suspended some personnel. The airline stated it has implemented immediate measures to prevent recurrence and is committed to reinforcing its compliance systems. The DGCA has since grounded the affected Airbus A320 and initiated its own investigation, with ARC violations potentially incurring penalties up to 10 million Indian rupees. Pilots were also reminded via internal email to meticulously check all necessary paperwork, including the ARC, before every flight.