IndiGo receives DGCA warning over cargo spillage, SOP deviations
The company said the regulator has directed it to submit an action taken report detailing the corrective measures implemented to address the deficiencies flagged during the audit
India’s largest airline IndiGo has received a warning letter from the aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), after an audit found deviations from standard operating procedures (SOPs), including certain provisions of the Aircraft (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Rules, 2026, following a cargo spillage incident reported earlier this year.
In a regulatory filing on Friday, parent company InterGlobe Aviation said the warning is related to a cargo spillage that was detected on the ground after the arrival of one of its flights and was reported in January 2026. The incident prompted the aviation regulator to conduct an audit, which subsequently identified deviations from prescribed SOPs as well as certain provisions governing the carriage of dangerous goods. The airline said it received the DGCA’s warning letter on July 8.
While the filing did not disclose details of the flight involved or the nature of the cargo that spilled, the development assumes significance as the DGCA has sharpened its oversight of airlines’ operational and safety compliance through regular audits and inspections.
The company said the regulator has directed it to submit an action taken report detailing the corrective measures implemented to address the deficiencies flagged during the audit. It added that the warning letter does not entail any financial penalty, operational restriction or other sanction. According to the filing, there will be no significant impact on the company’s financials, operations or other business activities as a result of the warning.
InterGlobe Aviation further disclosed that the stock exchange filing itself was delayed due to an internal communication lapse. It described the delay as “unintentional” and attributed it to a delay in internal communication regarding the receipt of the DGCA’s warning letter.
The latest regulatory action comes at a time when the DGCA has been maintaining heightened surveillance of airline operations, with a particular focus on operational discipline, safety procedures and compliance with rules governing the handling and transportation of dangerous goods
