DGCA Receives Private Report on IndiGo Delays

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reached a critical milestone as a specialized four-member committee submitted its confidential findings regarding the massive operational collapse at IndiGo earlier this month. The report, handed over to Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, marks the conclusion of a high-stakes inquiry into the airline’s failure to manage widespread flight cancellations and delays that left thousands of passengers stranded across the country.

Headed by Joint Director General Sanjay K. Bramhane, the committee was tasked with investigating why India’s largest domestic carrier struggled to implement new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules. While other airlines successfully transitioned to the revised pilot rest norms, IndiGo faced a significant crisis, leading to the cancellation of approximately 170 to 200 flights daily during the peak of the disruption. The panel examined the airline’s manpower planning, crew availability forecasting, and internal oversight mechanisms to identify the root causes of the breakdown.

Although the contents of the report remain confidential, aviation ministry sources suggest that “exemplary” action is likely. Potential consequences for the airline include heavy financial penalties and a possible review of its winter flight schedule. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu has previously stated that accountability will be fixed at the highest levels, indicating that the management’s preparedness—or lack thereof—will be under intense scrutiny.

The government is expected to review the findings over the next few days before deciding on the final regulatory measures. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that such a systemic failure does not repeat during the busy holiday travel season. Passengers and industry stakeholders are closely watching for the formal announcement of the ministry’s next steps, which will set a precedent for operational compliance in the Indian aviation sector.