What Led to IndiGo's Major Flight Disruptions? A DGCA Investigation Unveiled

DGCA Launches Investigation into IndiGo Flight Disruptions

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established a four-member committee tasked with thoroughly reviewing the factors that caused significant flight disruptions.

The committee comprises Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, Senior Flight Operations Inspector Captain Kapil Manglik, and Flight Operations Inspector Captain Rampal, as stated in a recent order.

This panel is expected to present its findings and recommendations to the DGCA within a 15-day timeframe, aiming to facilitate necessary regulatory actions and enhance institutional frameworks.

The order indicates that there are apparent deficiencies in internal oversight, operational readiness, and compliance planning, which necessitate an independent investigation.

The DGCA has previously issued multiple directives and advance instructions to the airline, urging timely preparations to adhere to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations.

The regulator noted that IndiGo's failure to accurately predict crew availability, conduct timely training, and adjust rosters, despite prior notifications, led to widespread delays and cancellations starting in late November 2025, resulting in non-compliance with directives.

Following this, a review meeting was held with IndiGo, where the airline admitted its shortcomings in anticipating crew needs under the revised regulations and acknowledged significant gaps in planning and assessment for Phase-II of the FDTL Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) 2024.

The CAR regarding FDTL was implemented in two phases, with the first phase effective from July 1 and the second from November 1.

This shortfall has directly resulted in extensive disruptions, with daily cancellations ranging from 170 to 200 flights, severely impacting network integrity and passenger convenience. Notably, IndiGo experienced the highest cancellation rates compared to other airlines in November.