Air India Warned for Operating Airbus Aircraft with Uninspected Escape Slides
Air India has received a stern warning from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after it was discovered that the airline operated three Airbus aircraft without conducting mandatory inspections of emergency escape slides—a critical safety component onboard.
Expired Inspections on International and Domestic Flights
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, including warning notices and an investigation report, the DGCA found during inspections in May that three Air India aircraft—an A320, an A319, and an unspecified third model—had flown without undergoing the required evacuation system checks.
In one of the most concerning cases, the inspection of an Airbus A320 was delayed by over a month and was not completed until May 15. During this period, according to AirNav Radar data, the aircraft operated international flights to destinations such as Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah. Another case involved an Airbus A319 flying domestic routes with inspections delayed by more than three months. The third aircraft had a two-day delay.
“Operating aircraft with expired or unverified emergency equipment constitutes a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements,” the DGCA report states.
Lack of Response and Poor Internal Oversight
The DGCA also accused Air India of failing to address the flagged deficiencies in a timely manner, highlighting weak internal control and supervision. “The absence of effective corrective actions by the quality and planning departments indicates a systemic control failure,” the official document concludes.
The report further noted that during the inspections, several Air India aircraft had outdated registration documentation. The airline responded that all but one aircraft met the requirements and asserted that this detail “has no impact on safety.”
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Air India’s Response and Potential Risks
Air India, under the control of Tata Group since 2022, issued a statement saying it is “expediting the verification of all maintenance records,” including those related to evacuation slides. The process is expected to be completed in the coming days.
In one incident, an engineer from AI Engineering Services accidentally deployed a slide during maintenance work, which reportedly alerted the technical team to the irregularity.
Vibhuti Singh, a former legal expert at the government’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, warned: “This is a very serious issue. In the event of an accident, if the slides fail to deploy, it could lead to severe injuries.”
The DGCA emphasized in its report that airworthiness certificates are automatically considered “suspended” when an aircraft fails to comply with mandatory inspections.
History of Penalties and Warnings
The warning was issued by Animesh Garg, Deputy Director of Airworthiness for the Indian government, to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, as well as to the airline’s heads of continuing airworthiness, quality, and planning.
The company is no stranger to regulatory scrutiny. In 2023, out of 23 documented cases of safety violations by the Civil Aviation Ministry, at least 12 involved Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express. Notable among these was a $127,000 fine for insufficient onboard oxygen on a flight to San Francisco and a case of unauthorized cockpit access.
Additionally, Wilson acknowledged in 2023 that the global shortage of spare parts affects the entire industry but admitted the issue is “more acute” for Air India due to the aging of its fleet, much of which has not been renewed since its delivery in 2010–2011.
Another Blow to the Airline’s Reputation
Although these findings are unrelated to the recent accident involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 that claimed 241 lives, the revelation comes at a time of heightened sensitivity for the airline. Its chairman, N. Chandrasekaran, urged employees this week to treat the tragedy as a turning point to build a safer and more resilient company.
The current situation presents a critical challenge for Air India as it seeks to rebuild its image after years of criticism over operational and service deficiencies.
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