Mumbai: India’s aviation regulator has formally pinned responsibility for the ongoing IndiGo chaos on the airline’s top leadership, issuing a sharp show-cause notice to CEO Pieter Elbers as mass cancellations continued for the seventh straight day. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has demanded a detailed explanation within 24 hours, warning of strict enforcement action as passengers across major airports remain stranded and frustrated.
According to the notice, IndiGo has failed to comply with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and key Civil Aviation Requirements related to pilot fatigue management—rules designed to ensure crew readiness and passenger safety. The DGCA noted that the scale of cancellations and delays reflects “serious lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management,” adding that IndiGo’s operations showed “prima facie non-compliance” with mandatory safety and scheduling norms.
The regulator held Elbers personally accountable, stating, “As CEO, you are responsible for effective management of airline operations. You have failed to ensure timely arrangements for reliable services and adequate passenger support.” The notice also highlighted the “severe inconvenience, hardship, and distress” caused to thousands of travellers nationwide.
IndiGo’s crisis—sparked by crew shortages and alleged mismanagement of duty-hour reforms—has resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations daily. In a video message, Elbers admitted the airline is struggling to stabilise its network due to the “scale and complexity” of operations, predicting a return to normalcy only between December 10 and 15.
