Air India has acknowledged that one of its Airbus A320 aircraft was operated without a valid airworthiness review certificate, calling the lapse “regrettable” after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched a probe into the incident.

The aircraft reportedly flew at least eight times last month with an expired Certificate of Airworthiness, before the issue was detected and the plane was grounded. The aircraft remains out of service while the DGCA continues its investigation.

The Certificate of Airworthiness, issued by the DGCA, must be renewed annually and is mandatory for ensuring an aircraft’s fitness to fly. Aviation officials described operating a commercial aircraft without valid certification as a serious regulatory violation.

In a statement, Air India said, “An incident involving one of our aircraft operating without an airworthiness review certificate is regrettable. As soon as this came to our notice, it was duly reported to the DGCA and all personnel associated with the decision have been placed under suspension, pending further review.”

The airline added that it has begun a “comprehensive internal investigation” and is extending full cooperation to the regulator.
Air India further reaffirmed its commitment to “the highest standards of operational integrity and safety”, stressing that any breach of compliance protocols is “unacceptable”.

The development comes months after Air India Flight 171, operating from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12. Of the 241 people on board, only one passenger survived, while 19 people on the ground were killed and 67 others sustained serious injuries. The airline said that 95 per cent of the affected families have received interim compensation.