DGCA Suspends Four Inspectors Amid IndiGo Operational Crisis

By A Staff Reporter

India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has suspended four of its senior Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) in the wake of severe operational disruptions that crippled IndiGo’s flight network and left lakhs of passengers stranded nationwide. The decision comes after a detailed internal assessment of widespread cancellations, delays, and staffing irregularities that hit the country’s largest airline through the week.

IndiGo’s troubles intensified on Friday, when over 50 flights were cancelled from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport alone, leading to hours-long queues, missed connections, and mounting frustration among travellers. Airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata also witnessed significant disruptions as passengers grappled with last-minute cancellations.

According to officials, the suspended FOIs were responsible for various oversight and regulatory tasks, including monitoring cockpit procedures, evaluating airline compliance, and assessing operational readiness. FOIs are senior personnel within the DGCA and play a crucial role in ensuring safety and regulatory adherence across airlines.

Sources indicated that lapses in monitoring, procedural oversight, and reporting may have contributed to the operational chaos, prompting the regulator to take swift disciplinary action. The DGCA is expected to initiate a broader review of oversight systems and internal processes to prevent similar breakdowns in the future.