Here's What the Latest DGCA Warning To Air India Says Against Overdue Checks On Flights' Emergency Equipment

A serious safety warning has been issued to Air India by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, DGCA. This comes after the regulator found that three of Air India's Airbus aircraft were flown for weeks, and in some cases months, without mandatory checks on critical emergency equipment - specifically, the escape slides.

Here's a complete picture of what happened, what it means for passenger safety, and what the broader implications are for India's aviation sector.

What Happened?

According to government documents reviewed by news agency Reuters, the DGCA conducted surprise inspections in May 2025 and discovered that three Air India Airbus planes-an A320 and two A319s-were operating despite overdue checks on their emergency escape slides.

In one case, an Airbus A320's inspection was delayed by more than a month, and during that time, it flew to international destinations like Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. Another Airbus A319, used on domestic routes, had checks delayed by over three months. A third aircraft missed its inspection by just two days, but even this minor delay is a breach of regulations.

The DGCA report states: 'The cases indicate that aircraft were operated with expired or unverified emergency equipment, which is a violation of standard airworthiness and safety requirements.'

What is important to note that these warnings were issued days before the tragic crash of Air India Boeing 787-8 on June 12. The two events however are not related. The crash is still under investigation, and the DGCA has clarified that the earlier safety warnings were not connected to that incident.

Why Are Escape Slide Checks So Important?

Escape slides are vital emergency equipment, designed to help passengers and crew evacuate quickly and safely in the event of an emergency landing or crash. If these slides fail to deploy, or are not checked and maintained properly, it could result in serious injuries or loss of life during an evacuation.

The DGCA has made it clear: if mandatory inspections on critical equipment like escape slides are missed, the airworthiness certificate for that aircraft is considered suspended.

Air India's Response and Oversight Issues

Air India, now part of the Tata Group since 2022, has acknowledged the lapse and said it is 'accelerating' the verification of all maintenance records, including those for escape slides, with the process expected to be completed soon.

The report also says, in one case, the airline explained that the missed inspection was discovered when an engineer from AI Engineering Services accidentally deployed an escape slide during maintenance.

However, the DGCA report criticised Air India for not responding promptly to the deficiencies identified, highlighting 'weak procedural control and oversight.' The regulator also found several aircraft had outdated registration paperwork, although Air India maintains this does not impact safety.

Regulatory and Financial Consequences

The DGCA's warning notices were sent to Air India's CEO Campbell Wilson, as well as the airline's airworthiness, quality and planning managers. The regulator, like its counterparts around the world, often imposes financial and civil penalties for compliance lapses.

Broader Implications for Air India and Indian Aviation

The timing of these warnings, coming just days before the catastrophic Boeing 787-8 crash, has put Air India under intense scrutiny. While the two incidents are unrelated, the airline's reputation for safety and reliability certainly faces intense heat.

What Does This Mean for Passengers?

For passengers, the key takeaway is that regulators are actively monitoring airline safety. The escape slide issue, while not directly linked to any recent accidents, is a reminder of how critical routine maintenance is for aviation safety.

Airlines are required to follow strict protocols for a reason-to protect lives. When these protocols are not followed, it puts passengers at risk.