Indian DGCA Sacks Four Inspectors Amid IndiGo Flight Cancellation Crisis

The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dismissed four flight operations inspectors (FOIs) with immediate effect, holding them responsible for oversight failures that led to widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo. The regulator's decision, outlined in an order dated December 11, comes amidst significant disruption to IndiGo's operations across various airports, impacting numerous passengers.

The sacked FOIs, identified as Rishi Raj Chatterjee, Seema Jhamnani, Anil Kumar Pokhariyal, and Priyam Kaushik, were on deputation to the DGCA from their respective parent airlines. While serving oversight duties for the regulator, these individuals legally remained on the payrolls of their original carriers. IndiGo, meanwhile, has publicly stated that it anticipates compensation costs for customers whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of departure, or those severely stranded, to exceed ₹500 crore. The inspectors have been directed to rejoin their parent organizations.