DGCA Suspends Four Officials After IndiGo Disruptions
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended four of its officials following widespread flight disruptions faced by IndiGo earlier this month. The action comes after thousands of passengers were affected due to large scale cancellations and delays across several airports.
Oversight Lapses Under Scrutiny
The suspended officials were Flight Operations Inspectors responsible for monitoring airline compliance with safety norms, crew availability and operational preparedness. The regulator found shortcomings in oversight during the transition to revised flight duty time limitation rules, which came into effect on November 1. These rules require stricter rest periods for pilots, and IndiGo failed to adequately adjust its crew rosters in time.
IndiGo’s Crisis and Passenger Impact
IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, faced severe disruption when a shortage of available pilots led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights over several days. The situation left passengers stranded, forced last minute schedule changes and triggered sharp criticism of the airline’s planning and crisis management.
DGCA Steps Up Monitoring
Following the incident, the DGCA increased its monitoring of IndiGo’s operations and sought explanations from the airline’s senior management. The regulator has directed the carrier to strengthen staffing, improve planning and ensure strict compliance with safety and operational regulations. The suspensions signal tighter accountability within the aviation regulator as it reviews both airline preparedness and internal supervision.
