NEW DELHI — India’s aviation regulator has issued a warning to Air India after finding that three Airbus planes operated with overdue checks on critical emergency equipment, including escape slides.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) discovered during May inspections that required safety checks had been delayed — by more than a month in one case and over three months in another. Despite this, the aircraft flew domestic and international routes.

The DGCA criticized Air India for failing to respond promptly to raised safety concerns, calling it evidence of “weak procedural control” and a “systemic oversight failure.” One issue surfaced after an escape slide was accidentally deployed during maintenance.

The airline, acquired by Tata Group in 2022, stated it is speeding up maintenance record verifications and expects to resolve the matter soon.

The report stressed that overdue emergency checks effectively suspend an aircraft’s airworthiness. The DGCA noted that outdated registration paperwork was also found on several planes.

Air India has faced 12 safety warnings or fines in the past year, the highest among Indian carriers, including a $127,000 penalty for low oxygen levels on a long-haul flight.

While not linked to last week’s fatal crash of a Boeing 787, the revelations deepen concerns over safety at Air India, as the airline works to restore its reputation under new leadership.