India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has dismissed four flight inspectors responsible for overseeing the safety and operational compliance of IndiGo, amid a widening crisis that has forced the airline to cancel thousands of flights across the country this month.
The decision follows internal findings that the inspectors had failed to carry out their duties effectively. Their removal comes at a time when IndiGo’s operational shortcomings, including inadequate planning and non-compliance with enhanced safety norms, have led to severe disruptions for tens of thousands of passengers nationwide. With widespread cancellations affecting schedules in multiple cities, IndiGo is now under intensified regulatory and ministerial scrutiny.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has been summoned repeatedly by the DGCA, including another appearance scheduled for Friday, as the regulator seeks detailed explanations on the airline’s failure to adhere to safety and operational standards. Officials said the ongoing disruptions were linked to mismanagement of crew deployment, roster planning, and training schedules, which collectively led to cascading delays and cancellations.
To regain control over the situation, the DGCA has positioned two special oversight teams at IndiGo’s Gurugram headquarters. These teams are required to submit daily assessments to the regulator by 6 p.m. Each team is focusing on different aspects of the crisis to ensure comprehensive monitoring of both operational impact and passenger welfare.
One team is examining IndiGo’s fleet strength, pilot availability, crew utilisation, split-duty arrangements, unplanned staff leave, training requirements, standby readiness, and the number of flights affected due to crew shortages. It is also reviewing the airline’s network and sector lengths to assess how deeply the disruption has affected scheduling efficiency and flight operations.
The second team has been assigned to track the consequences for passengers. This includes monitoring refund processing by both IndiGo and travel agents, evaluating whether compensation is being provided in accordance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), reviewing on-time performance where services continue, overseeing baggage return processes, and compiling updated cancellation data.
In its most direct intervention so far, the DGCA has also instructed IndiGo to reduce its operations by 10 per cent until stability is restored. Given IndiGo’s usual schedule of around 2,200 flights per day, this means that over 200 additional flights will be cancelled daily to prevent further disruption and allow the airline to reorganise its operations.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has stated that passengers have experienced “severe inconvenience” due to IndiGo’s mismanagement of crew rosters, flight timings, and communication practices. Following his meeting with CEO Elbers, the minister emphasised that the airline must comply with all directives issued by the ministry, including fare caps and support for affected travellers.
As the regulator’s investigation continues and IndiGo’s leadership faces ongoing questioning, the airline has announced that passengers affected by extreme delays between December 3 and 5 will receive compensation. The decision is part of IndiGo’s effort to address passenger grievances as it works to stabilise operations amid one of the most significant disruptions in its recent history.
