DGCA Probe Panel Submits Report on IndiGo Flight Cancellations

New Delhi: A four-member inquiry panel appointed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formally submitted its report on the massive flight cancellations that disrupted air travel across India earlier this month, senior aviation officials confirmed on Friday evening.

DGCA Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane led the committee, which began its inquiry on December 5 to examine lapses in the implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. These rules govern crew rest and flight operations and aim to improve aviation safety while aligning Indian regulations with global standards.

Although authorities have not released the report publicly, government sources confirmed that officials shared copies with the Civil Aviation Minister and senior ministry officials. The findings are expected to explain why IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced widespread disruptions, with flight delays and cancellations rising sharply and touching over 1,600 cancellations in a single day, stranding tens of thousands of passengers across the country.

The DGCA had pointed to shortcomings in planning and preparation for the new crew-rest rules as key contributing factors, noting that despite advance notice, the airline failed to forecast crew needs accurately and adjust schedules in time. In response to the disruptions, the regulator had directed IndiGo to cut its winter flight schedule by 10 per cent and issued show-cause notices to top executives, including CEO Pieter Elbers.

Industry watchers believe the panel’s report could lead to tighter regulatory oversight, operational changes within the airline, and possibly exemplary action to prevent similar crises in future. While aviation insiders await the formal release of recommendations, the episode has sparked wider debate on airline preparedness amid evolving safety norms.