Air India Express reportedly ignored a directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to replace engine parts on its Airbus A320 aircraft and falsified documents to show compliance, according to a report by Reuters. The issue was raised in March 2025, several months before Air India’s fatal Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash.
In response, India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, reprimanded Air India’s budget carrier, according to a confidential government memo reviewed by Reuters. Following the report, Air India Express told the publication it had acknowledged the error to the regulator and taken “remedial action and preventive measures.”
Modifications Were Required On VT-ATD
In 2023, EASA issued Airworthiness Directive 2023-0108 for CFM International LEAP-1A engines, requiring the replacement of specific components. The directive was based on a manufacturer’s investigation that found some parts, including high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 disks, forward outer seals, and compressor rotor stages 6–10 spools, may have been made from material with reduced strength due to iron contamination.
The confidential memo from the Indian government, sent to the budget airline in March 2025 and reviewed by Reuters, stated that DGCA surveillance found the required engine modification on an Air India Express Airbus A320neo, registered as VT-ATD, had not been completed within the specified deadline. Adding to that, the memo said that “in order to show that the work has been carried out within the prescribed limits, the AMOS records have apparently been altered/forged.”
The airline’s VT-ATD is a five-year-old narrowbody aircraft leased from AerCap. It has been flying in Air India Express livery since 2023, after previously being operated by AIX Connect (it merged with Air India Express in 2024), according to ch-aviation data. As of September 30, 2023, the aircraft has clocked in a total of 14,159 flight hours and 6,930 flight cycles.
Air India Crash Prompts Scrutiny On Indian Aviation Safety
Indian aviation safety came under intense scrutiny after the tragic crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on June 12, 2025, which claimed 241 of the 242 lives on board. In the most recent news, India’s upper house of parliament has proposed a comprehensive safety review of the country’s civil aviation sector. Reuters reviewed a draft memo, which stated that airport operators, air traffic controllers, and airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, have been asked to participate in the review to improve safety standards.
Additionally, Western aviation regulators in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have reportedly raised concerns about the transparency of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash investigation being led by Indian authorities. According to two sources familiar with the matter, who spoke to Corriere della Sera, there are behind-the-scenes fears that local political pressures could influence the investigation and its final report.
The concerns arose following the handling of the two black boxes, which were not sent to the United States or France, despite both countries’ recognized expertise in this area. Adding to this was the recent rejection of ICAO observers from participating in the investigation.
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More About Air India Express
Founded in 2005, Air India Express is a low-cost arm of Air India, which is owned by the Tata Group. The Tata Group officially took over Air India in 2022. The takeover raised hopes that Tata’s business acumen would help make Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express become “a world-class” carrier.
The low-cost airline operates a fleet of 114 aircraft, according to ch-aviation. The fleet includes 49 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, 26 Boeing 737-800s, 24 Airbus A320-200s, 12 Airbus A320neos, and three Airbus A321neo narrowbodies. Looking ahead, the airline is awaiting deliveries of 50 Boeing 737 MAX 10s and 91 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, as per ch-aviation.
- Year Founded
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1946
- CEO
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Campbell Wilson
Air India Express operates flights to over 50 destinations, serving both international and domestic markets. Its route network spans across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and various cities within India.