India’s aviation regulator has reprimanded Air India after discovering three Airbus aircraft were operated despite overdue emergency escape slide inspections—a serious oversight that prompted fresh scrutiny amid the airline’s struggles with safety and reliability. the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted spot checks and found one Airbus A320 had missed its slide inspection by over a month, yet had already flown to international destinations including Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah.
A second A319 had gone without checks for over three months, and a third aircraft’s safety equipment was unchecked for two days. The DGCA characterised these lapses as “a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements,” and warned the airline cited a “systemic control failure,” pointing to weak internal oversight and slow compliance. These notices were issued in early June—days before the dreadful crash of flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, near Ahmedabad on 12 June, which claimed around 241 lives. Though the slide-check breach was unrelated to the accident, it exposed broader vulnerabilities in Air India’s maintenance protocols at a time when public trust was already fragile.
DGCA’s report stated that certificates of airworthiness for aircraft missing mandatory safety verifications were effectively “deemed suspended” until corrective action was taken. It also reprimanded Air India for delayed responses and inadequate procedural control after receiving deficiency notices. In its defence, Air India, now under Tata Group ownership, said it was “accelerating” maintenance record verification for all aircraft, including escape slide checks, and expected full compliance in days. In one instance, it admitted an engineer accidentally deployed a slide during an inspection—indicating some attention but underscoring operational weaknesses .
Safety experts have underscored slide checks as critical. Former Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau member Vibhuti Singh explained that if slides fail during emergencies, passengers could face serious harm. These revelations add to a series of compliance failures attributed to Air India. Last year alone saw 12 DGCA safety actions including warnings, fines and pilot disciplinary proceedings, notably for oxygen shortages and unauthorised cockpit access . Additionally, recent investigations have flagged outdated registration documents and ongoing quality-control breakdowns.
The safety warning arrives during a critical phase as Air India seeks to rebuild its credibility following the fatal 787 crash. That tragedy prompted a 15 per cent reduction in widebody operations, enhanced aircraft inspections, and scrutiny of training records by the DGCA. Meanwhile, Air India’s chairperson emphasised a commitment to safer practices in light of the accident and ongoing regulatory pressure. As the airline pursues its turnaround under Tata and aims towards more sustainable operations—including investments in fuel-efficient aircraft—the slide inspection lapse serves as a sobering reminder. Operational safety remains inseparable from eco-friendly goals; delayed maintenance undermines passenger welfare, regulatory trust, and environmental commitments by risking unscheduled diversions and higher emissions.
Going forward, Air India must reinforce a robust safety culture, transparent audit systems, and swift corrective mechanisms. This includes real-time maintenance tracking, independent compliance verification, staff accountability, and stronger passenger safety safeguards. Restoring confidence in safety processes is vital—not only for business viability but for meeting its broader goal of becoming an equitable, zero‑carbon, modern airline that genuinely values human lives and sustainable urban connectivity.
Also Read: Air India Black Box Sent to US After Crash in Ahmedabad
