New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formally issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, holding the airline’s leadership responsible for widespread flight disruptions that stranded thousands of passengers across India. The regulator’s notice, issued on Saturday, outlined specific operational lapses and demanded explanations within 24 hours, signaling potential enforcement action.

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DGCA Identifies Four Major Failures

The DGCA’s notice highlights four key categories of alleged violations that collectively contributed to the unprecedented chaos in IndiGo operations:

1. Failure to Prepare for Revised Crew Duty Rules (FDTL)

According to the DGCA, the primary cause of the meltdown was IndiGo’s inadequate preparation for the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.

• The notice states that the airline did not arrange sufficient crew manpower, did not plan rosters properly, and failed to adjust operations according to the updated requirements.
• The regulator emphasized that these norms had been issued last year, giving the airline ample time to comply, yet IndiGo did not make adequate operational arrangements.

2. Lapses in Planning, Oversight, and Resource Management

The DGCA also noted serious shortcomings in the airline’s internal management, highlighting deficiencies in:

• Operational planning
• Supervisory control
• Crew allocation
• Overall resource management

These failures, the regulator stated, amount to prima facie non-compliance with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, as well as with multiple Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) governing crew duty periods, rest hours, and flight time limitations.

3. Non-Compliance with Passenger Rights Rules

Passenger welfare during disruptions emerged as another critical area of concern. The notice faults IndiGo for failing to provide mandatory assistance to passengers affected by flight cancellations and delays:

• No timely updates were shared with stranded passengers.
• Obligations toward passengers denied boarding were not met.

The DGCA termed these actions as violations of CAR provisions on passenger entitlements, underscoring the airline’s lack of compliance with regulatory requirements.

4. CEO Ordered to Respond Within 24 Hours

Pieter Elbers has been directed to explain why action should not be taken against IndiGo. The notice warns that if the airline fails to respond within the stipulated 24-hour period, the regulator may proceed ex parte, meaning the decision could be taken without further input from the airline.

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Background: How the Crisis Escalated

Over the past week, IndiGo’s network faced massive cancellations due to crew shortages under the new FDTL regime, which sets limits on duty hours and mandates additional rest periods for pilots and cabin crew.

Airports across India saw long queues and stranded passengers, with the following reported cancellations on Sunday:

• Delhi: 86 flights
• Hyderabad: 69 flights
• Ahmedabad: 59 flights
• Kolkata: 41 flights

The disruptions triggered a public backlash, highlighting gaps in contingency planning by one of India’s largest carriers.

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IndiGo’s Response

In response, IndiGo issued an apology and provided updates on network restoration:

• Over 700 flights were operated the previous day.
• 95% of the network is reportedly restored.
• IndiGo is flying to 135 out of 138 destinations.
• The airline expects to operate over 1,500 flights by the end of Sunday.

The carrier reassured passengers and the public that it is committed to winning back customer trust while stabilizing operations.

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Next Steps

The DGCA’s show-cause notice places IndiGo’s top management under close scrutiny. Depending on the airline’s response, the regulator could initiate penalties, operational restrictions, or other enforcement measures.

The incident has sparked broader discussions in the aviation sector about crew management, regulatory compliance, and contingency planning, especially in the context of nationwide disruptions affecting thousands of travelers.