IndiGo CEO Faces Heat Over Flight Disruptions: DGCA Issues Show-Cause Notice

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India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers over a week-long operational crisis that affected the airline's scheduled flights. The disruptions caused significant inconvenience to passengers, prompting the DGCA to take action. According to the notice, the primary reason for the delays and cancellations was the airline's failure to make adequate arrangements for the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) scheme. The DGCA observed that the disruption indicated major lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management by the airline. The regulator has directed the CEO to explain within 24 hours why enforcement action should not be taken. Failure to respond within the stipulated time will lead to the matter being decided ex parte. The DGCA has also formed a committee to review the flight disruptions and assess gaps in crew planning, operational preparedness, and compliance with revised FDTL norms. The notice highlights that the situation shows prima facie non-compliance with provisions of aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements regarding duty periods, rest hours, and flight time limitations for crew members. The DGCA has warned that such large-scale operational failures indicate significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management, and are prima facie non-compliance with the provisions of Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and the provisions of CAR Section 7, Series J, Part III Issue III (Rev. 2) on Duty Period, Flight Duty Period, Flight Time Limitations, and Prescribed Rest Periods - Flight crew Engaged in Scheduled Air Transport Operations.