India’s civil aviation authority has imposed a fine of 10 million rupees ($110,350) on Air India for operating an Airbus A320 without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC).
The sanction, formalized on February 5, emphasizes that the incident has “further eroded public confidence” and negatively impacted the organization’s safety compliance, according to a confidential order issued by the authority.
Eight Flights Operated Without Valid ARC
The incident involves an Airbus A320 that transported passengers between November 24 and 25 on key domestic routes: New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
During these operations, the aircraft lacked the ARC, an essential document that must be issued annually by the regulator after verifying that the aircraft meets all technical and regulatory safety requirements.
Internal Investigation: “Systemic Failures” and Compliance Culture Under Review
Air India’s own internal investigation concluded that “systemic failures” existed within the organization. The airline further admitted to an urgent need to improve its regulatory compliance culture.
The internal report also identified direct operational responsibilities:
- SOP Non-compliance: The pilots who operated the eight flights failed to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) before takeoff.
- Documentation Checks: This point is particularly sensitive, as checking documents is a standard part of pre-flight verifications.
For an airline of Air India’s size and exposure, these findings point not just to a one-time error, but to weaknesses in internal oversight mechanisms, document control, and operational discipline.
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Executive Accountability: CEO Named in Official Order
The sanction order, signed by Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Maneesh Kumar, identifies the “manager” representing the airline as the responsible party. In this case, the reference points to Air India CEO, Campbell Wilson.
The document states that the executive is “guilty of the aforementioned omissions,” reinforcing the regulatory principle of ultimate responsibility within senior management regarding operational safety compliance. Air India must deposit the fine amount within a 30-day period.
Delicate Context: Regulatory Background and Trust Crisis
The incident occurs at a particularly sensitive time for the company. Air India suffered its worst disaster when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff in June of last year, resulting in the deaths of 260 people.
Furthermore, the airline—owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata Group and Singapore Airlines—has received additional warnings from the regulator for:
- Operating aircraft without adequately verifying emergency equipment.
- Other deficiencies detected during audits.
This pattern of regulatory observations reinforces the perception that the problem transcends an isolated incident.
Strategic Impact: Reputation, Governance, and Oversight
For the country’s second-largest airline, the impact goes beyond the financial penalty, which is relatively modest in financial terms. The critical element is reputational and structural.
When the regulatory authority states that the event has eroded public confidence, it is signaling a systemic risk: the link between regulatory compliance, organizational culture, and brand credibility.
As Air India executes an ambitious transformation process under the Tata Group umbrella, operational discipline and documentary rigor are non-negotiable pillars. Every regulatory deviation compromises the narrative of modernization and international repositioning.
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