Air India Express admits "lapse" after DGCA finds altered records for Airbus A320 engine compliance

Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, was reprimanded by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in March for failing to promptly replace engine components on an Airbus A320 and for allegedly falsifying records to appear compliant, according to a confidential government memo reviewed by Reuters. The mandatory part replacement was directed by the European Union's aviation safety authority (EASA) to address a "potential unsafe condition" in CFM International LEAP-1A engines, which could lead to "high energy debris release."

The DGCA's surveillance in March revealed that the required modification on an Airbus A320 engine "was not complied" within the stipulated time limit. Furthermore, the confidential memo stated that "in order to show that the work has been carried out within the prescribed limits, the AMOS records have apparently been altered/forged." AMOS (Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Operating System) is the software used by airlines to manage maintenance and airworthiness. Air India Express acknowledged the lapse to the Indian regulator, attributing the missed deadline to "migration of records on its monitoring software," and stated it has implemented "remedial action and preventive measures," including removing the quality manager and suspending the deputy continuing airworthiness manager.

This incident, first flagged during a DGCA audit in October 2024, adds to the growing scrutiny on Air India Group's safety protocols. The plane in question reportedly took only a few trips after the engine parts were due for replacement. Aviation experts emphasize the gravity of such lapses, noting the increased risks, particularly during flights over sea or near restricted airspace. The parent company, Air India, has also faced recent warnings from the DGCA for breaching rules regarding overdue checks on escape slides and "serious violations" of pilot duty timings, intensifying concerns about safety governance within the Tata Group-owned airline, especially after the recent Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad.