Key Highlights
- Significant Penalty: A ₹1 crore fine was imposed following a probe into unauthorized flight operations.
- The Violation: An Airbus A320 (VT-TQN) operated eight sectors on November 24 and 25, 2025, with an expired safety certificate.
- Management Accountability: DGCA held CEO Campbell Wilson, the “accountable manager,” responsible for the lapse.
- Personnel Action: The regulator has ordered the removal of specific engineering post-holders involved in the oversight.
- Airline Statement: Air India confirmed the incident was voluntarily reported and all systemic gaps have since been rectified.
In a major blow to the airline’s safety reputation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a ₹1 crore fine on Air India for serious breaches of aviation safety norms. The penalty, detailed in an order dated February 5, 2026, and made public this week, stems from the airline operating an Airbus A320 aircraft on eight revenue sectors without a mandatory Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC).
The flights in question occurred between November 24 and 25, 2025, connecting major hubs including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The ARC is a critical annual validation that ensures an aircraft meets all technical and safety standards, without which commercial operation is strictly prohibited.
Accountability at the Top
The DGCA’s investigation was uncharacteristically blunt, describing the airline’s approach as “casual” and stating that the incident had “further eroded public confidence and adversely impacted the safety compliance of the organisation.” In a significant move for corporate accountability, Joint Director General Maneesh Kumar specifically named CEO Campbell Wilson as the “accountable manager” blameworthy for the lapses.
Furthermore, the regulator has directed Air India to remove certain high-ranking engineering post-holders. Internal probes revealed that flight crews failed to follow standard operating procedures before take-off, neglecting to verify the validity of the aircraft’s documentation.
The Origin of the Lapse
The aircraft involved, an Airbus A320 Neo formerly part of the Vistara fleet, had been grounded for a month for an engine change. During this maintenance period, its ARC expired. Following the technical service, the aircraft was released back into active duty without the mandatory certificate being renewed.
While Air India typically has delegated authority to issue ARCs through its in-house Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO), this internal safeguard failed to trigger a stop on the aircraft’s deployment.
Air India’s Response and Future Outlook
A spokesperson for Air India acknowledged the receipt of the DGCA order, noting that the airline had actually self-reported the oversight on November 26, 2025. “All identified gaps have since been satisfactorily addressed and shared with the authority,” the airline stated, reiterating its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of operational integrity.
This fine comes at a sensitive time for the Tata Group-owned carrier, which is currently navigating a complex merger process and recovering from the fallout of the June 2025 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad. The airline has been given 30 days to deposit the penalty and must prove that its corrective measures are sufficient to prevent a recurrence of such “systemic failures.”
