MoS Murlidhar Mohol blames IndiGo for cancellations, says airline did not take FDTL norms seriously

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol. (ANI)

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday said IndiGo’s failure to implement revised flight duty time rules on schedule was a key reason behind the large-scale flight cancellations and chaos seen over the past four days.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Mohol said the pilots’ association had demanded that duty hours be reduced from 10 hours to 8 hours. The Delhi High Court later approved these reforms, making it mandatory for airlines to follow the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) in two phases starting 1 July 2025 and 1 November 2025.

Mohol said the ministry alerted all airlines after the court order. “All airline companies worked on this, but IndiGo did not take it as seriously as it should have. The situation that formed four days back was because IndiGo and its management did not take this seriously,” he said.

#WATCH | Pune: On IndiGo flight cancellations, MoS Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol says, "Pilots' Association had demanded that the duty hours should be reduced from 10 hours to 8 hours and for this, reforms be made to FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations). The Delhi High Court also… pic.twitter.com/Gn9LXOQGhc

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2025

According to Mohol, the government stepped in after disruptions escalated. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) set up a four-member investigation committee and a 24/7 control room. The ministry has also kept the new FDTL rules in abeyance until February 2026 to stabilise operations.

The DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to the IndiGo CEO and sought a response within 24 hours.

Mohol said the government has instructed IndiGo to refund passengers without cancellation charges and ensure that all stranded luggage is returned within 24 hours. The ministry has also told other airlines to follow a fare-setting chart to prevent sharp spikes in ticket prices.

“There is a slight improvement in the situation. We are working together to ensure normal flight operations in the country,” Mohol said, adding that action will be taken after the investigation committee submits its report.