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