The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Tata-owned Air India ₹1 crore. The penalty comes for operating an Airbus A320 Neo plane without a valid airworthiness certification on at least eight routes last year. The incident was reported voluntarily by Air India in November 2025. The airworthiness review certificate (ARC), which Air India is authorized to issue, had expired for this plane during these flights. ARC is an annual certificate that checks an aircraft’s maintenance, condition, and compliance with safety standards. Air India said in a statement, "Air India acknowledges the receipt of a DGCA order in relation to an incident that was voluntarily reported back in 2025. All identified gaps have since been satisfactorily addressed and shared with the authority." Air India has faced regulatory actions before for similar violations. This fine was announced on February 13, 2026, confirming the regulator’s strict stance on air safety.