Airbus aircraft operated by Air India potentially flown with unmaintained emergency evacuation systems
India's Skies Troubled: Air India Slapped With Safety Violation Warnings
In a shocking turn of events, India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has served Air India with safety violation warnings. The warning letters came to light after a series of oversights concerning emergency equipment on three Airbus planes were discovered, with inspections being overdue by substantial margins [2][3][4].
These oversights involved crucial safety equipment such as escape slides, which are vital for quick evacuation during emergencies. During a spot check in May 2025, it was discovered that one Airbus A320's escape slide inspection was delayed by over a month, allowing the plane to fly international routes to destinations like Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah [4]. Another aircraft, an Airbus A319 on domestic routes, had its inspection overdue by over three months, and a third aircraft missed its inspection deadline by two days [4].
The DGCA report stated that these cases reveal a blatant violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements, as the aircraft were operated with equipment that was either expired or unverified. To make matters worse, Air India demonstrated weak procedural control and oversight by taking an unreasonably long time to rectify these oversights [3].
In response to these violations, the DGCA issued warning notices to the CEO and senior officials responsible for airworthiness, quality, and planning at Air India [2][3]. The regulator made it clear that planes missing mandatory safety inspections risk having their airworthiness certificates suspended. Despite these warnings, they were issued days prior to the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 on June 12, 2025 [2][3]. The DGCA has emphasized that these safety violations were unrelated to that tragic incident [2][3].
These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding safety standards in the aviation industry, particularly when it comes to emergency equipment. The ensuing investigations into these safety lapses will undoubtedly shed more light on the matter. Buckle up, folks, and let's hope for a more secure future in our skies!
Top Stories: Air India's ongoing safety issues have raised concerns within the industry, as finance and transportation authorities examine the airline's financial health to determine if budget cuts may have contributed to the reported oversights in safety inspections of aircraft.
In light of the recent safety violations issued by the DGCA, aviation experts have called for increased scrutiny and stricter regulations within India's aviation sector to ensure the safety of passengers and consistency in the finance and maintenance of aircraft, safeguarding the entire transportation network.
