India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has taken strict action against Tata Group-owned Air India after one of its aircraft was found operating commercial flights with an expired airworthiness certificate. The officials involved have been de-rostered, and the aircraft has been grounded pending a full investigation.
The Safety Lapse and Immediate Actions
The incident involves an Airbus A320 aircraft, registered as VT-TQN. According to the DGCA, this aircraft operated eight commercial flights between November 24 and 25 without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), which had expired. Air India voluntarily reported the error to the regulator on November 26, 2025.
In response, the DGCA immediately instructed the airline to ground the aircraft and initiated its own probe. Air India has de-rostered all personnel involved in the decision to operate the plane while its certification was invalid. The airline is also conducting an internal investigation on the DGCA's instructions to find system deficiencies and implement corrective measures.
Background: A Legacy of the Vistara Merger
This particular aircraft is three years old and was previously part of the Vistara fleet. The lapse is linked to the complex integration following Vistara's merger into Air India in November 2024. Typically, Air India issues ARCs for its fleet under a delegated authority through its in-house Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO).
However, for the 70 aircraft transitioning from Vistara, it was decided that the DGCA would handle the first ARC renewal. The regulator stated that it had successfully issued ARCs for 69 of these aircraft. For the seventieth aircraft (VT-TQN), Air India had filed an application, but the plane was grounded for an engine change. During this maintenance period, the ARC expired, yet the aircraft was mistakenly released back into service after the engine work was completed.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Air India's Response
Operating an aircraft on a lapsed airworthiness license is considered a serious safety violation. This incident adds to the regulatory challenges Air India has faced since the tragic crash of flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12. The airline has been subject to increased scrutiny, with many actions stemming from its own voluntary disclosures of issues.
An Air India spokesperson expressed regret over the incident, stating the airline is "unwavering in its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of operational integrity and safety." The spokesperson confirmed the suspension of involved personnel and full cooperation with the DGCA's investigation.
Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft last flew on November 25 and has been grounded since. Before the eight flights on the expired ARC, it had been under maintenance for a month, having last flown with a valid certificate on October 24.
In a recent internal message, Air India's CEO noted that the airline has been "more transparent than usual" in reporting incidents post-crash, which, while building long-term trust, has led to a perception of increased events in the short term.
