Mumbai: IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta has rejected claims that the airline deliberately engineered its recent operational crisis, describing such allegations as “untrue” and reaffirming the company’s commitment to safety. Mehta addressed the disruptions in a video message, apologizing to passengers and outlining steps being taken to understand and prevent future issues.
Mehta explained that the board will conduct a comprehensive review of the flight cancellations, involving external technical experts to work alongside management in determining the root causes. “On December 3, an unexpected chain of events led to large-scale flight cancellations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. We are truly sorry for the distress caused,” he said.
The airline experienced widespread cancellations after challenges in implementing tighter safety and crew rostering rules, with disruptions peaking on December 5. Although operations have stabilized since then, nearly 220 flights were canceled on Wednesday at major airports, including Delhi and Mumbai.
Addressing criticism, Mehta acknowledged that while some feedback was fair, the airline’s safety standards were never compromised. He stressed that IndiGo adhered strictly to pilot fatigue and crew rostering rules and did not bypass regulations at any point. The disruptions, he said, resulted from a combination of internal and unforeseen external factors, including minor technical issues, seasonal schedule changes, adverse weather, and increased congestion in the aviation system.
Mehta noted that other Indian carriers faced similar external challenges without experiencing the same level of disruption, indicating the combination of events exceeded IndiGo’s system capacity. He emphasized that the crisis was not due to deliberate action but reflected operational limits being tested under multiple pressures.
The airline’s board has been actively involved, with a dedicated crisis management team meeting daily. Mehta assured that corrective measures will be implemented to prevent recurrence. In parallel, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has set up an oversight team and summoned IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to submit a detailed report on the disruptions.
The chairman concluded by reaffirming the airline’s commitment to passengers, safety, and operational improvements.
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