Confidential Report Submitted to DGCA: What's Next for IndiGo After Flight Chaos?

A high-level inquiry committee has submitted its confidential report to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation watchdog. The report details the causes of the massive operational disruption at IndiGo, the nation's largest domestic carrier. This chaos led to the IndiGo flight cancellations of over 5,000 services in early December 2025. The findings will guide the DGCA’s decision on potential regulatory enforcement action.

Background to the Operational Chaos

The widespread disruption began in late November 2025. It peaked in early December, causing severe passenger inconvenience and crowding at major airports. The primary cause was the airline’s struggle to comply with new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules. These stricter regulations are part of FDTL CAR 2024 implementation, which aims to improve flight safety and manage pilot fatigue. The new rules mandated longer rest periods and restricted night-duty hours for cockpit crew.

IndiGo had acknowledged significant planning and assessment gaps. The airline failed to accurately forecast its crew availability gaps under the revised norms. This led to a cascading effect of delays and cancellations across its extensive network. The DGCA had previously issued repeated directions for timely preparation.

The Inquiry Committee's Mandate

The four-member committee was headed by Joint Director General of Civil Aviation Sanjay K Bramhane. It was tasked with a comprehensive review of the circumstances. The panel examined several critical operational areas. These included ground handling preparedness and pilot duty roster management. It also reviewed communication with passengers and compliance with civil aviation norms during the crisis.

Statements from airline officials and airport operators were recorded. The committee was initially given 15 days but requested an extension to analyze the extensive data provided by the airline. The submission of the DGCA inquiry report marks a crucial step in the regulatory process.

Next Steps for the Aviation Watchdog

The report's contents remain confidential and have not been made public. The aviation watchdog DGCA will now study the findings thoroughly. This assessment will determine if regulatory lapses or systemic failures contributed to the December IndiGo operational chaos.

Potential actions by the DGCA could include:

• Issuing corrective directions to IndiGo.
• Imposing financial penalties on the airline.
• Mandating operational safeguards to prevent recurrence.

Earlier in December, the DGCA had already taken initial steps. It deployed special oversight teams at IndiGo's office. The regulator also temporarily granted the airline an exemption from some night operations-related FDTL changes until February 10, 2026. This was done to allow the carrier time to stabilize operations.

Industry Impact and Accountability

This crisis highlights the significant challenge of implementing new safety regulations in a high-volume market. The FDTL CAR 2024 implementation is designed to align India's standards with global best practices. The disruption impacted over 1.1 million passengers between December 1 and 9. The government has vowed to take strict action to set an example for airlines that violate regulations.

Other domestic carriers, such as Air India and Akasa Air, reportedly managed the FDTL Phase II rollout with minimal disruption. This suggests that the issues faced by IndiGo were specific to its internal planning and crew management. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) also launched an inquiry into the airline. The focus is on whether IndiGo abused its dominant market position during the crisis. Stakeholders across the industry are awaiting the DGCA’s final decision. This case will set a precedent for future regulatory compliance and airline crisis management in India's rapidly growing aviation sector. For more updates on this and other commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.