Source TOI
New Delhi, December 2, 2025 – An Air India aircraft was grounded by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after it was discovered to have operated eight commercial flights with an expired Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). The DGCA has launched an investigation into the incident, which has raised concerns about the airline’s operational safety protocols.
The expired ARC is a crucial annual certification that verifies an aircraft’s adherence to airworthiness standards and its main Certificate of Airworthiness. Air India reported the lapse to the DGCA on November 26, 2025, admitting that the aircraft was “inadvertently” deployed for commercial flights despite the expired certificate.
The incident appears to be linked to the ongoing Vistara-Air India merger. As part of this merger, all 70 Vistara aircraft required renewed ARCs in 2024. While 69 of these aircraft received their renewals, the 70th aircraft’s renewal was delayed due to an engine change. During this period, its ARC expired, but it was subsequently released for service.
Following the detection of the compliance lapse, the DGCA immediately ordered the grounding of the aircraft and initiated an inquiry. The ministry has stated that personnel involved in the incident have been de-rostered pending the outcome of the probe.
Air India has also initiated an internal investigation to identify systemic gaps and accountability failures, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
