Air India on Wednesday acknowledged that one of its aircraft was operated without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), calling the lapse “regrettable” and stressing that it maintains zero tolerance for safety violations.
In an official statement, the airline said it is committed to the highest standards of operational integrity and that any breach of mandatory compliance procedures is unacceptable. The issue was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) immediately after it was identified.
All employees associated with the decision to operate the aircraft have been suspended pending a detailed internal review.
“We have initiated a comprehensive investigation and are fully cooperating with the regulator,” an Air India spokesperson told ANI.
Incident Comes Amid Broader Safety Scrutiny
The development adds to the airline’s ongoing challenges following the June crash of a Boeing Dreamliner that claimed 260 lives. Air India has also faced significant financial losses due to Pakistan’s airspace ban on Indian carriers and has received multiple safety warnings from the DGCA this year.
An Airworthiness Review Certificate is issued only after a detailed examination of an aircraft’s maintenance history, physical condition, and regulatory compliance. Operating without a valid certificate is considered a serious violation of aviation safety norms.
The lapse comes at a time when the global aviation industry is under heightened scrutiny over maintenance and safety practices. Airbus recently flagged a quality issue with fuselage panels on aircraft that have not yet entered service. This development arrived just as Airbus’ worldwide fleet resumed operations following urgent software updates to correct a flight-control system vulnerability.
