DGCA Cracks Down: IndiGo CEO Summoned Amid Operational Meltdown
The situation at IndiGo just got real, or nothing. The crackdown has officially begun. The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), the aviation safety regulator, is not messing around after this massive wave of flight cancellations—we’re talking over 5,000 flights canceled, impacting more than 12.5 lakh passengers.
X happened (IndiGo completely failed to manage its crew rostering under new rules). And then Y followed (the government brought the hammer down).
The big moves happening today, Wednesday, December 10, 2025:
1. DGCA Takes Over the Office
The DGCA has ordered nine senior officials to be permanently stationed at the IndiGo corporate office. This is essentially direct monitoring.
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Audit Team: They are conducting a full-blown audit of the airline’s fleet, pilot and crew utilization, and rostering practices. The core issue? IndiGo’s meltdown is blamed on the new, stricter Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms that came in on November 1, and the airline’s failure to adapt.
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Passenger Monitor: Two officials will specifically monitor flight cancellations, delays, refunds processed, and passenger compensation status. This is all about consumer protection.
2. CEO Elbers is Summoned
DGCA chief Faiz Kidwai met with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers today, and the heat didn’t let up. Elbers has been formally summoned to appear at the DGCA office at 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
He’s been told to bring the full data—the comprehensive report on the operational disruptions. This includes:
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Flight Restoration Status: Where exactly are they on getting flights back on track?
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Recruitment Plan: The updated position of pilot and cabin crew strength, and the detailed plan for hiring to comply with FDTL. The airline needs around 160 more pilots by February 10, 2026.
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Refunds Processed: Hard numbers on cancellations and how many refunds have actually been processed for passengers.
3. The PMO Got Involved
Let’s be real, this only happens when things are seriously messed up. The decision to audit and summon the CEO follows a high-level review meeting by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). They were looking at all the chaos—missing baggage, passenger complaint redressal, and the massive crowds at airports.
4. The Root Cause Probe
The DGCA has already appointed a four-member panel to find the root cause and fix accountability. They are specifically looking into:
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Manpower Planning Failures: Did the airline intentionally run with thin crew buffers despite the two-year preparatory window for the new FDTL rules?
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Crew Rostering: Fluctuating systems and the airline’s preparedness to implement the revised duty period and rest norms for pilots (like increasing weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours).
The minister of civil aviation has already blamed IndiGo for “mismanagement regarding their crew.” This is not a situation that’s going to have a tidy wrap-up. The audit and the CEO’s testimony tomorrow are ongoing steps in what looks like a prolonged regulatory battle.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on public announcements by the DGCA and should be confirmed with official sources.
