Aviation Minister Blames IndiGo For Chaos
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said IndiGo is responsible for the large-scale disruption that affected passengers across the country. He stated that crew mismanagement and poor planning after the introduction of new pilot duty regulations led to the crisis. The minister said the airline had failed to prepare adequately for the changes.
Flights Cancelled, Passengers Stranded
IndiGo cancelled a very large number of flights over several days, affecting major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Thousands of passengers were left waiting at terminals, many without clear information or alternative arrangements. Airports saw long queues, overcrowding and complaints from travellers who were unable to reach their destinations on time.
Probe Ordered And Relief Measures
The aviation ministry has ordered an investigation into the causes of the disruption. A committee will examine scheduling, manpower planning and communications. IndiGo has been instructed to issue pending refunds, return baggage quickly, cap ticket prices on essential routes and provide alternative travel options. Special arrangements, including additional flights and coordination with railways, were announced to reduce passenger inconvenience.
Industry Raises Safety And Monopoly Concerns
The incident has triggered a wider discussion about the risks of overdependence on a single airline in the domestic market. While other airlines did not face similar disruption, IndiGo’s scale made the impact more visible. Some experts have also raised caution over temporary relaxations to pilot rest rules, saying safety must remain the priority as operations return to normal.
