Air India Flew Airbus A320 Eight Times Without Permit, Fined ₹1 Crore

India’s aviation regulator has penalised Air India after one of its aircraft was operated multiple times without a valid airworthiness certificate.

What Happened

India’s civil aviation watchdog — the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — has imposed a ₹1 crore fine on Air India after it found serious compliance lapses involving an Airbus A320 aircraft.

According to the regulator, the aircraft was flown eight times despite lacking a valid airworthiness permit, a mandatory document confirming that a plane is safe to operate.

DGCA Findings

Officials discovered that:

• The aircraft continued commercial operations after its required certification expired
• Mandatory checks and documentation were not properly updated
• Internal oversight failures allowed repeated flights

The DGCA termed it a serious violation of aviation safety norms and imposed the monetary penalty after investigation.

Airline’s Response

Air India acknowledged the issue and stated that it has:

• Taken corrective measures
• Strengthened monitoring procedures
• Ensured stricter compliance going forward

The airline said safety remains its top priority and corrective steps have already been implemented.

Why Certification Is Important

An airworthiness certificate ensures that:

• The aircraft meets safety standards
• Maintenance checks are completed
• The plane is fit for passenger operations

Flying without it is considered a major regulatory breach in global aviation practice.