DGCA Fires Inspectors, Orders 10% Flight Cut Amid IndiGo Chaos

DGCA sacks four flight inspectors for negligence as IndiGo cancels thousands of flights, leaving passengers stranded. The regulator orders a 10% reduction in operations and monitors refunds, crew deployment, and passenger compensation to stabilize airline operations.

Post Published By: Karan Sharma

Updated : 12 December 2025, 4:07 PM IST

Indigo Flight Crisis: DGCA Dismisses 4 Flight Inspectors

New Delhi: The recent operational crisis at Indigo, the country's largest airline, has caused immense inconvenience to passengers. Following the sudden cancellation of thousands of flights and disruptions in crew management, the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) took strict action, dismissing four flight inspectors who were responsible for monitoring the airline's safety and operations.

Indigo's Flight Disruptions and DGCA Action

This month, Indigo canceled thousands of flights due to shortcomings in its flight planning and failure to strictly adhere to safety regulations. The peak of cancellations was observed on December 5th, although the airline later stated that its operations had returned to normal levels.

Amidst this crisis, the DGCA deployed two monitoring teams at the airline's Gurugram office. These teams will submit daily reports to the regulator by 6 PM.

IndiGo announces Rs 10,000 travel vouchers for severely impacted customers; Details inside

The first team will monitor the airline's operations, including

• Total fleet and pilot strength
• Crew utilization (in hours)
• Crew in training
• Unplanned leaves and standby crew
• Number of flights per day and affected sectors
• Average stage length and network operations

The second team will focus on the impact on passengers and the airline's responsibilities, such as

• Refund status
• Compensation to passengers under CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements)
• On-time flight performance
• Return of lost baggage
• Status of canceled flights
• Indigo Operations Cutback and Ministry Orders

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the internal mismanagement at Indigo had caused serious inconvenience to passengers. Consequently, an order was issued to reduce the airline's total operations by 10%. This means that approximately 200 flights will have to be permanently canceled.

Domestic airfares skyrocketed after massive IndiGo cancellations.

The minister also stated that the airline must comply with all guidelines, including fare limits and passenger amenities, and this will be enforced without exception. Compensation for Passengers

IndiGo announced that passengers "severely affected" between December 3 and 5 will receive travel vouchers worth ₹10,000. These vouchers can be used for any IndiGo flight within the next 12 months.

Additionally, the airline stated that this compensation is in addition to the predetermined compensation of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 under government guidelines.

IndiGo Flight Cancellations Hit Delhi’s Economy Hard: Markets, Tourism and Trade Suffer Massive Losses

IndiGo said it is committed to providing passengers with a safe, smooth, and reliable travel experience.

The IndiGo crisis highlighted the seriousness of safety and operational responsibility in the airline industry. The DGCA's actions and the order to reduce flights are aimed at ensuring that such major disruptions and flight cancellations are avoided in the future.