DGCA Suspends Four Inspectors as IndiGo Flight Disruptions Worsen

Mumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended four of its Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) following the large-scale disruptions in IndiGo’s operations that left thousands of passengers stranded across airports. The airline cancelled over 50 flights from Bengaluru Airport on Friday.

FOIs are senior officials within the aviation safety regulator who oversee operations, audits, and certification processes. They are responsible for monitoring airlines, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and evaluating pilots, cabin crew, dispatchers, and training systems. A DGCA source confirmed that four such officials have been suspended in connection with the ongoing crisis at IndiGo.

IndiGo continued to face operational strain on Friday, cancelling 54 flights — 31 arrivals and 23 departures — from Bengaluru. A day earlier, the airline had cancelled over 200 flights from Delhi and Bengaluru.

The DGCA has intensified its scrutiny of the airline. Officials have been stationed at IndiGo’s headquarters to monitor operations, and the regulator’s inquiry panel questioned IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Thursday. He, along with Chief Operating Officer Isidre Porqueras, has been called again to appear before the panel at 2 PM on Friday.

The four-member investigation panel includes Joint Director General Sanjay Brahamane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, senior Flight Operations Inspector Kapil Manglik, and FOI Lokesh Rampal. The committee has been tasked with identifying the underlying causes of the widespread disruptions at the country’s largest airline.

The panel will examine manpower planning, rostering practices, and IndiGo’s readiness to implement the revised duty and rest norms for pilots, which came into effect on November 1 this year.