DGCA sacks 4 inspectors after IndiGo meltdown
India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, has removed four flight operations inspectors following a chaotic week for IndiGo.
The airline saw mass cancellations—750-1000+ flights on December 5—after being allowed to ramp up its winter schedule by 10%, despite already struggling with crew shortages and new pilot work-hour rules.
Why does this matter?
Thousands of passengers were left stranded at airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru as IndiGo's on-time performance crashed to just 35%.
To make up for it, the airline handed out ₹10,000 vouchers to those hit hardest.
Meanwhile, the DGCA told IndiGo to cut flights by 10% on key routes and put a cap on fares.
What happens next?
IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers has been called in by the DGCA for a meeting today (December 12, 2025) to explain how they'll fix things—think flight recovery plans, hiring more pilots, and better compensation for travelers.
The regulator hasn't named replacements for the sacked inspectors yet, but more internal reviews and action are reportedly underway as IndiGo works through its ongoing challenges.