DGCA Sacks Four Inspectors Over IndiGo Crisis
Regulator deploys oversight teams as airline ordered to cut 10% flights amid safety and management lapses
- DGCA fires four flight inspectors for negligence in IndiGo’s safety oversight.
- Two regulator teams stationed at IndiGo’s Gurugram office for daily monitoring.
- Government orders airline to cut 10% of daily flights to stabilise operations.
- IndiGo announces ₹10,000 vouchers for passengers “severely impacted” between Dec 3–5.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Dec: 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 crisis-hit IndiGo, citing gross negligence in monitoring procedures.
The move comes after the airline cancelled thousands of flights this month, leaving passengers stranded nationwide. The disruption peaked on December 5 and gradually eased, with IndiGo stating earlier this week that operations had returned to normal.
To restore order, the DGCA has deployed two dedicated teams at IndiGo’s Gurugram headquarters to closely supervise the airline’s functioning. The teams will submit daily reports by 6 pm, tracking crew utilisation, fleet operations, standby strength, split duties, training schedules, the number of disrupted sectors, and overall network adjustments.
Another set of officials is monitoring passenger-facing issues such as refund status, compensation compliance under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), on-time performance, lost baggage returns and continued cancellations.
In a significant corrective step, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced that IndiGo must cut 10 per cent of its flights to stabilise operations. With the airline operating nearly 2,200 flights daily, the reduction translates to more than 200 cancellations.
The minister said the chaos resulted from IndiGo’s “internal mismanagement of crew rosters, flight schedules and inadequate communication,” adding that the airline must comply with all directives, including fare caps and passenger relief measures.
Meanwhile, IndiGo has announced compensation of ₹10,000 in travel vouchers for passengers “severely impacted” during December 3–5, when widespread congestion and crew shortages paralysed operations. The airline, however, did not clarify how it will identify affected passengers. This compensation is in addition to the government-mandated ₹5,000–₹10,000 payout for flights cancelled within 24 hours of departure.
The airline said it remains committed to restoring a “safe, smooth and reliable” travel experience as the regulator intensifies scrutiny.
