DGCA Probe Report on IndiGo Disruption Submitted to Aviation Ministry

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has received the confidential report from the four-member enquiry committee. This panel was tasked to probe the IndiGo flight disruptions that caused widespread operational chaos. The report was submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday.

Background to the Operational Breakdown

The disruptions began in early December 2025, following the full implementation of the revised FDTL norms. FDTL stands for Flight Duty Time Limitation. These new rules govern pilot rest and duty hours. The second phase of the new norms took effect on November 1, 2025. The regulator had repeatedly advised airlines, including IndiGo, to prepare for the transition.

However, the airline operational breakdown occurred due to severe crew shortages. IndiGo, India's largest airline, struggled to align its schedules and rosters. The DGCA noted that the carrier failed to accurately assess crew availability.

Scale of the Disruption

IndiGo's operational performance dropped significantly. In November 2025 alone, the airline recorded 1,232 flight cancellations. Of these, 755 were directly attributed to crew or FDTL constraints. At the peak of the crisis, daily cancellations reportedly reached between 170 and 200 flights. The total number of affected flights in early December exceeded 5,000.

IndiGo later acknowledged that the chaos arose from "misjudgement and planning gaps." The airline admitted it failed to anticipate the actual crew requirement.

The Revised FDTL Norms and Safety

The revised FDTL norms were introduced to strengthen pilot fatigue management and enhance flight safety. The new framework includes several key changes:

• Mandatory weekly rest increased from 36 hours to 48 hours.
• The night duty period was extended (0000-0600).
• Night landings were strictly limited to two per roster period.

These stricter rules meant airlines needed to either significantly increase their pilot pool or reduce their flight schedules. The DGCA stated that IndiGo's cancellations were significantly higher than other carriers.

Regulatory and Institutional Response

The enquiry committee was formed to identify the root causes of the disruption. It also reviewed compliance gaps and examined accountability for planning failures. The panel, headed by Joint Director General Sanjay K. Bramhane, included Deputy Director General Amit Gupta. The findings will enable the DGCA to consider possible DGCA regulatory action.

In response to the crisis, the DGCA took immediate steps. The regulator issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo's top management. It also ordered a temporary 5-10% reduction in the airline's winter schedule. This was to ensure the airline could operate its remaining flights efficiently. Furthermore, the DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from some night operations-related changes for its Airbus A320 pilots until February 2026. This was to help stabilize operations. The regulator also took action against its own staff, sacking four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) for oversight lapses.

This event highlights the critical tension between commercial scheduling and regulatory safety requirements. The DGCA, the regulatory body, will now study the confidential DGCA panel report to decide on the next course of action. The outcome will set a precedent for future compliance with pilot fatigue management rules across the Indian aviation sector. For more on this and other commercial aviation news, stay tuned to our updates. The final report is now with the Ministry of Civil Aviation for further examination. The regulatory body (DGCA) aims to strengthen institutional processes to prevent a recurrence of this large-scale operational failure.