New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has suspended four of its Flight Operations Inspectors who were responsible for monitoring IndiGo, amid the continuing disruptions that have affected thousands of passengers across the country. The action follows days of flight cancellations and delays that triggered widespread concerns about the airline’s operational management and regulatory oversight.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the suspended inspectors were part of the team that looks into critical aspects such as crew rosters, pilot duty hours, regulatory compliance and overall operational functioning. Their suspension is linked to concerns that oversight gaps may have contributed to the crisis that has severely impacted passenger movement nationwide.
IndiGo has been struggling with large-scale cancellations following the implementation of revised pilot rest norms and an unexpected surge in crew unavailability. The cascading impact led to hundreds of flights being grounded, long queues at airports and repeated advisories urging passengers to check their flight status before travelling.
Sources indicated that the DGCA has been conducting round-the-clock monitoring of the airline’s operations since the disruptions began. Officials have also been stationed at IndiGo’s control centre to track flight movements and ensure compliance with safety and rostering guidelines. Senior IndiGo executives, including the top management team, have been called in for multiple rounds of meetings with the aviation watchdog as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The decision to suspend the four inspectors is being viewed as a strong signal from the regulator that accountability extends not only to the airline but also to those responsible for its oversight. The inspectors, who were on deputation, have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect and instructed to return to their parent organisations.
The DGCA continues to assess the situation as IndiGo works to stabilise its schedule. The airline has issued repeated assurances that it is restoring operations gradually and taking corrective steps to streamline crew deployment. Passengers, however, have continued to face delays and cancellations as the aviation sector watches the developments closely.
The regulator is expected to submit a detailed report after completing its examination of both the operational lapses and the regulatory gaps that contributed to the disruption.
