Pakistan, July 4 -- India's aviation watchdog warned Air India Express earlier this year for failing to replace engine parts on time as required by the European Union Aviation Safety (EASA), according to an official memo. The memo also revealed that maintenance records were allegedly altered to show compliance with the directive, raising major safety concerns.

The incident involved an Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Air India Express, a budget airline owned by the Tata Group. Regulators discovered the lapse during a routine audit, months before the deadly Dreamliner crash in June that killed 241 people. Although unrelated, the recent crash has intensified scrutiny of Air India's overall safety practices.

In response to the memo, Air In...