Indian Aviation Minister Naidu Warns IndiGo of Firm Action Over Crew Roster

December 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM•2 min read

The Indian government has launched an inquiry into IndiGo's mass flight cancellations, with Minister K Rammohan Naidu warning of strict action over crew

Key Points

1Indian Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu launched an inquiry into IndiGo's mass flight cancellations, promising "very, very strict action" to set an industry example.
2IndiGo's operational crisis is directly linked to internal mismanagement of crew and duty rosters, not a technical system glitch, as confirmed by the Minister.
3New Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, fully implemented by November 1, were cited as a contributing factor, with IndiGo failing to report issues.
4The Indian DGCA had consulted with airlines and provided necessary FDTL exemptions prior to the crisis, highlighting IndiGo's failure in operational oversight.

Indian Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced a probe into IndiGo's widespread flight cancellations, threatening "very, very strict action" against the airline. He clarified that the disruptions were not due to a technical glitch in the Automatic Message Switching System (AMSS), which had caused issues earlier in November, but rather stemmed from IndiGo's internal mismanagement of crew and duty rosters. Naidu emphasized that the government views the situation seriously and intends to set an industry example.

The Minister detailed the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which were introduced following a court order. Of the 22 guidelines, 15 became effective on July 1, with the remaining seven on November 1. Naidu stated that extensive consultations were held with major stakeholders, including IndiGo, and airlines were clearly instructed to adhere to the revised norms, which prioritize crew rest and safety.

Despite continuous discussions between the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and carriers seeking operational exemptions, and necessary variations being granted, the crisis at IndiGo unfolded nearly a month after the full FDTL framework was in effect. Naidu revealed that while the ministry met with IndiGo on December 1 to address FDTL-related queries, the airline failed to flag the underlying issue causing the operational breakdown. He condemned the situation as a failure of basic operational oversight, stressing that managing crew rosters is a fundamental daily operation for IndiGo, and any non-compliance would be met with firm repercussions across the civil aviation sector.