DGCA suspends 4 inspectors; IndiGo hires expert for probe

Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday suspended four of its senior flight operations inspectors (FOIs) and summoned IndiGo’s CEO for fresh questioning amid the airline’s deepening operational chaos. Under pressure to act, the private carrier initiated steps towards internal clean-up by appointing a global aviation expert to probe the disruptions.

The decisive moves came as IndiGo continues to struggle to operate all its flights. Officials said the four inspectors — Rish Raj Chatterjee (Dy CFOI-A), Seema Jhamnani (SFOI-A), Anil Kumar Pokhariyal (FOI-A) and Priyam Kaushik (FOI-A) — were removed after a preliminary review indicated serious lapses in regulatory oversight during the period when IndiGo began cancelling hundreds of flights.

The FOIs, who form the backbone of the DGCA’s safety and compliance machinery, are responsible for auditing airlines, certifying crew and ensuring adherence to operational and training standards. A senior official said the inspectors were relieved of their duties “in connection with the widespread disruptions at IndiGo”, adding that their actions during the crisis were now under examination. The formal order stated that the officials, all serving on contract, were being released from DGCA assignments with immediate effect so they could return to their parent organisations.

On the ground, the impact of IndiGo’s instability remained severe. Bengaluru airport alone reported 54 cancellations (31 arrivals, 23 departures) on Friday, following more than 200 cancellations across Delhi and Bengaluru a day earlier. Passengers at several airports complained of long queues, delayed rebooking and minimal advance communication.

As disruptions persisted, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras appeared before the DGCA inquiry panel for a second straight day. Elbers had been questioned on Thursday as well, after DGCA teams took station inside IndiGo’s headquarters to closely track operational decisions.

The inquiry panel, formed earlier this week, includes Joint Director General Sanjay Brahamane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, senior FOI Kapil Manglik and FOI Lokesh Rampal. The committee has been tasked with identifying the root causes of IndiGo’s instability, including its crew deployment strategy, fluctuating rosters and preparedness to comply with the revised pilot duty-rest norms that came into force on November 1. Its findings are expected to influence the next round of regulatory action.

IndiGo asserted that operations were stabilising, and that it expected to operate more than 2,000 flights till late Friday under a scaled-down schedule. The airline said all 138 operational destinations remained connected and claimed an improved on-time performance.

On Thursday, it operated close to 1,950 flights with only four cancellations, which it attributed to adverse weather, adding that passengers were informed in advance “to avoid inconvenience”.

The airline also announced that its Board had approved the appointment of Chief Aviation Advisers LLC, led by veteran aviation strategist Captain John Illson, to conduct an independent review of the disruption and its underlying causes. Illson, who has served in senior positions across the FAA, ICAO, IATA and global carriers, will submit a comprehensive report to the Board once the assessment is completed. The move follows a recommendation by the airline’s Crisis Management Group, which advised an external audit.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu chaired a review meeting to assess preparedness for the upcoming fog season. The DGCA, AAI, airport operators, airlines and the CISF were instructed to enforce strict compliance with fog-related SOPs, prioritise real-time data sharing, activate war rooms and deploy CAT-II/III-compliant aircraft with qualified crew.

The minister emphasised timely communication to passengers and warned that every instance of inconvenience would attract clear accountability.

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