Aviation Minister vows 'very strict action' over IndiGo chaos
What's the story
Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has promised "very, very strict action" against IndiGo after a recent flight disruption. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said the airline's internal lapses in crew management and roster planning were responsible for the crisis. He clarified that this issue is different from previous system malfunctions and assured that accountability is key.
Accountability stressed
Minister Naidu emphasizes accountability, promises inquiry
Naidu said, "We are not taking this situation easily. We are doing an inquiry. We will take very, very strict action not only for this situation but also as an example." He also detailed the timeline of revised flight duty time limitations (FDTL) that were introduced after a high court order in April 2025.
Crisis clarification
IndiGo crisis unrelated to past system malfunctions
The minister dismissed Congress MP Pramod Tiwari's suggestion that the recent cancellations were due to a malfunction in the automatic message switching system (AMSS), the glitch responsible for disrupted flight operations in early November. He said the crisis was due to "anomalies and mismanagement" in IndiGo's crew roster system. Naidu also pointed out that despite multiple consultations with stakeholders, including IndiGo, rules had to be followed "without any compromise on safety."
Ongoing crisis
IndiGo's operational crisis continues, Supreme Court declines intervention
The IndiGo operational crisis has continued for eight days with over 550 flight cancellations reported on Monday. The Civil Aviation Ministry said IndiGo plans to operate 1,802 flights on Monday, across 137 of its 138 destinations. The airline has returned around 4,500 misplaced bags and aims to deliver the rest within 36 hours. Separately, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in a petition regarding the flight cancellations.