Air India under probe for operating aircraft with expired safety certificate

ISTANBUL

India’s flag carrier Air India is under investigation for operating an aircraft with an expired safety certificate on at least eight routes, the Press Trust of India reported.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) launched a probe into the incident involving an A320 aircraft that flew multiple services on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 with an expired Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), the agency said.

In a statement, the DGCA confirmed it had ordered the aircraft grounded and suspended all personnel involved in authorizing its operation, pending the investigation.

Air India has also been instructed to conduct an internal review to identify and correct systemic issues to prevent recurrence, PTI reported.

The airline notified the DGCA on Nov. 26 that the A320 had been flown without a valid ARC.

The ARC, issued annually, certifies that an aircraft meets airworthiness standards following an assessment of maintenance records, physical condition and regulatory compliance.

On June 12, an Air India plane with 242 onboard crashed in western Gujarat state, killing over 270 people, including 241 aboard the ill-fated plane.

The incident in June has prompted India to order an inspection of Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.