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Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu told the Rajya Sabha that the massive flight cancellations by IndiGo were primarily due to the airline’s internal system failures not the new FDTL rules. He explained the timeline of rule implementation, DGCA consultations, and why the disruptions surfaced abruptly on December 3.
"IndiGo Crisis Triggered by Internal System Failure"
New Delhi: During Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu made a significant statement in the Rajya Sabha, saying that the recent flight cancellations by IndiGo, the country's largest private airline, which affected thousands of passengers, were a result of a failure in its own internal systems. He clarified that this crisis had no direct connection to the new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) rules.
IndiGo crisis wasn’t about FDTL rules - it was an internal system failure, says Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu#IndiGoCrisis #IndigoDelay #RamMohanNaidu pic.twitter.com/OXLochgTS3
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) December 8, 2025
Naidu stated that the new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitation) guidelines were implemented from November 1, 2025, but extensive consultations were held with all airlines before these rules were put into effect. Of the total 22 new guidelines, 15 rules had already been implemented from July 1, and no airline had reported any problems with them.
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The remaining seven rules were implemented from November 1, regarding which airlines had sought some operational clarifications. The DGCA held several rounds of meetings with all airlines, not just IndiGo to address their concerns and provided clear instructions. The Minister also stated that despite these rules, safety remains the top priority, and the government will not compromise on safety under any circumstances.
Passenger, crew & system safety remain our top priority - Civil Aviation Ministry#IndiGoCrisis #IndigoDelay #RamMohanNaidu pic.twitter.com/VkfCZxhd3r
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) December 8, 2025
Minister Naidu explained that until November, all airlines operated normally under the new rules. On December 1, IndiGo held a meeting with the DGCA and sought some clarifications related to FDTL, which were provided immediately. He emphasized that IndiGo did not report any serious problems at that time.
However, on December 3, the situation suddenly deteriorated, and a large number of flights were cancelled, creating chaos at airports. According to the Minister, the reason for this sudden crisis was not the new FDTL rules, but serious flaws in IndiGo's own internal operational mechanisms. These lapses in crew management and daily rostering led to the situation spiraling out of control.
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As soon as the Ministry became aware of the crisis, immediate intervention was initiated. Control rooms were activated at airports, emergency meetings were held with all stakeholders, and additional resources were deployed to assist passengers. The Minister acknowledged that passengers faced significant inconvenience during these days, and the government is taking this matter very seriously. He said the ministry made every effort to quickly stabilize the situation.
Minister Naidu made it clear that the government is not taking this matter lightly. A detailed audit of IndiGo's operating systems and decision-making processes has been initiated. He warned that strict action would be taken against any airline that fails to comply with regulations, compromises safety, or shows negligence in its operations in the future.
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu in Rajya Sabha:#IndiGoCrisis #IndigoDelay #RamMohanNaidu pic.twitter.com/eoFcgUVK1l
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) December 8, 2025
He said this incident is a lesson for the entire industry, and the government will ensure that no airline, no matter how large, is above the law.
