IndiGo crisis: DGCA suspends 4 Flight Operation Inspectors after findings suggest lapses

IndiGo crisis

Days after IndiGo faced one of its biggest operational meltdown, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday suspended four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) who were overseeing IndiGo’s safety and operational compliance.

The action was taken after preliminary findings indicated lapses in oversight relating to the airline’s recent operational crisis, according to a report by CNN-News18.

IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights last week after failing to plan for tighter safety regulations, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded across the country. The cancellations peaked on December 5 and have declined since, with the airline saying on Tuesday that its operations have stabilised and are back to normal levels.

According to sources cited by News18, the FOIs responsible for monitoring IndiGo’s flight operations were found at fault in the regulator’s initial review, prompting decisive action at a time when the airline is battling severe disruptions across its network.

The DGCA has deployed two teams at the carrier's office in Gurugram to oversee various operations, including crew utilisation and refunds, sources told NDTV. The 'oversight teams' will submit a daily report to the regulator by 6 pm.

The first team is looking into aspects like the total fleet, pilot strength, crew utilisation (in hours), crew under training, split duties, unplanned leaves, standby crew, flights per day, and the total number of sectors affected on account of crew shortage. It will also keep an eye on the average stage length (distance flown in a single leg, from one takeoff to landing) and the airline's network to get a complete picture of the operations.

Meanwhile, the second team is looking into problems caused by the crisis, including the refund status (both from the airline's end and websites/agents), compensation to passengers under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), on-time performance, returning lost baggage and the cancellation status of various flights, NDTV reported.