New Delhi, July 4, 2025 — Air India Express is under scrutiny again after a Reuters report revealed that the airline operated an Airbus A320 in violation of a European engine safety directive and allegedly altered maintenance records to conceal the lapse. The breach, uncovered by India’s aviation regulator in October 2024, involved non-compliance with a 2023 directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) concerning critical engine components.
According to the report, which cites a confidential memo from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airline delayed replacing specified engine parts on one of its CFM LEAP-1A-powered aircraft (registration VT-ATD), and allegedly altered records in its maintenance tracking system to falsely indicate that the work had been completed within the required timeframe.
“The plane took only a few trips after it was supposed to replace the CFM engine parts,” a source with direct knowledge told Reuters.
The directive in question was issued by EASA in May 2023 and required airlines to replace certain forward seals and rotating components due to potential manufacturing defects. Based on the description, the likely applicable directive is EASA AD 2023-0108, which warned that failure to comply could result in high-energy debris release and aircraft damage.
Airline Admits Lapse
Following DGCA’s audit, Air India Express acknowledged the error, stating that the part replacement was delayed due to a software migration issue. The airline has since taken corrective action and updated its records.
In March 2025, after DGCA reprimand, the airline took disciplinary, including removal of the airline’s quality manager and suspension of a deputy airworthiness manager.
EASA Statement
After being contacted by Reuters, EASA told the news agency that it “will investigate this matter” in coordination with engine manufacturer CFM International and India’s DGCA. While not a public statement or formal enforcement action, the case has nonetheless escalated beyond India’s borders.
Unanswered Questions
The incident raises not only concerns about regulatory non-compliance but also about data integrity which is a foundational element of aviation safety. EASA’s interest stems from the fact that the breach involves EU-certified components, specifically the CFM LEAP‑1A engine. Although the aircraft in question was not operating on EU routes, such a lapse could indicate systemic issues affecting other aircraft in the fleet, thereby falling under EASA’s continued airworthiness oversight for certified components.
Several critical questions remain unanswered:
- How many flights did the aircraft operate in breach of the directive before it was grounded?
- Did EASA learn of the violation only through the media, via the Reuters investigation?
- What is the scope of the “timely exchange of significant safety findings” between regulators? Under the working arrangement between DGCA and EASA, was DGCA expected to proactively inform EASA of a compliance and recordkeeping lapse of this nature?
As EASA looks into the matter, the episode serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely compliance and accurate maintenance records in upholding aviation safety.
Image: Pexels/Pixabay
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