The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into a serious safety lapse at Air India, where a 164-seat Airbus A320 reportedly operated eight domestic flights without a valid Airworthiness Certificate between November 24 and 25, 2025. The certificate, which expired prior to these sorties, is a mandatory annual document certifying an aircraft's operational safety, and its absence represents a grave violation of aviation norms. The irregularity came to light during a routine night halt review by an engineer, prompting the immediate grounding of the aircraft at its base. This incident, involving Tata Group-operated Air India, underscores potential gaps in the airline's compliance protocols amid its ongoing post-privatisation restructuring.

An Airworthiness Certificate, issued by the DGCA, confirms through rigorous inspections that an aircraft's airframe, engines, propellers, and other critical systems are airworthy and compliant with safety standards. It requires meticulous records of flying hours, flight cycles, completed maintenance tasks, and rectification of any defects, all managed by the airline's in-house Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO). Airlines must apply for renewal at least three months before expiry, involving engineer-led audits and DGCA verification, with the process concluding annually to ensure uninterrupted operations. Without it, an aircraft cannot legally or safely fly, as it voids insurance, complicates leasing agreements, and exposes passengers to unverified risks.

The lapse occurred on short-haul routes within India, with the A320—tail number VT-PPK—completing the unauthorised flights before being sidelined. Air India, which took delivery of the 14-year-old jet in 2011 during its Etihad co-ownership phase, attributed the error to human oversight in document verification. A spokesperson confirmed that the issue was self-reported to the DGCA upon detection, and two senior staff members, including a maintenance supervisor, have been suspended pending an internal probe. The airline emphasised its commitment to safety, stating that such incidents are "unacceptable" and that corrective training is underway to prevent recurrence.

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DGCA officials have dispatched a multidisciplinary team to scrutinise Air India's CAMO processes, maintenance logs, and oversight mechanisms at its Mumbai and Delhi hubs. Preliminary findings suggest the certificate expired on November 23, yet the aircraft was cleared for service due to a clerical mismatch in the digital tracking system. Penalties could include fines up to Rs 10 lakh per violation, licence suspensions for errant personnel, and enhanced audits across the fleet. The regulator's spot-check regime will intensify, but experts note that primary accountability rests with operators, not just watchdogs.

This episode revives scrutiny on Air India's transformation since Tata's 2022 acquisition, where fleet modernisation and safety enhancements have been priorities, yet teething issues persist amid rapid expansion. The airline operates over 200 aircraft, including 30 A320s, and has invested in digital tools for compliance, but the incident highlights the perils of transitional chaos in a high-stakes industry. Globally, similar violations have led to fleet groundings, as seen in recent LATAM and SpiceJet cases, reinforcing that even brief lapses can erode public trust.

As the probe unfolds, aviation stakeholders urge stricter automation in certification tracking and whistleblower protections to foster a robust safety culture. For passengers, the silver lining is swift grounding, but the event serves as a stark reminder that air travel's safety net relies on unyielding vigilance, with Air India now under the microscope to restore confidence ahead of peak holiday traffic.

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