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Air India Flew Passengers Without Safety Permit
10 Dec
Summary
- Air India plane flew eight commercial flights without a required airworthiness permit.
- Engineers and pilots failed to check crucial aircraft documents.
- The airline cited systemic failures and missed communication opportunities.
An internal Air India investigation has uncovered "systemic failures" that led to an Airbus A320 conducting eight commercial flights without a mandatory airworthiness permit. The aircraft flew passengers between major Indian cities from November 24 to 25 without the necessary Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), a critical annual safety document.
The investigation found that both engineers and pilots failed to verify the aircraft's documentation. The report, reviewed by Reuters, noted that "critical information was not shared with all relevant stakeholders," leading to missed opportunities for intervention and highlighting the need for improved process discipline and communication.
Air India stated it proactively reported the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and has taken immediate measures to prevent recurrence. The DGCA had ordered the aircraft grounded and initiated its own probe. A violation of ARC rules can result in significant penalties.
