Why Did the DGCA Sack Four IndiGo Flight Operations Inspectors Amid Pilot Shortages & Management Disputes?

The DGCA has fired four flight operations inspectors (FOIs) who were working as principal operations inspectors (PIOs) for IndiGo. These inspectors are normally assigned to airlines to check if flights run safely and if there are enough crew members. The DGCA said the inspectors were negligent in their duties, which contributed to the mass flight cancellations earlier this month. Specifically, the removed inspectors were responsible for making sure IndiGo followed the new rules on pilot rest and duty hours.

Reasons for Sacking IndiGo Flight Operations Inspectors

• Failure to Monitor Compliance: The FOIs failed in ensuring that IndiGo was prepared to implement Phase-2 of the revised FDTL, which prescribed longer rest and restrictions on night operations for pilots.
• Mass Flight Disruptions: Early this month, IndiGo went into a severe operational breakdown in which it cancelled thousands of flights and stranded tens of thousands of passengers at major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. A shortage of pilots and rostering failures were termed as the reasons for the crisis.
• Inadequate Preparation by IndiGo: Despite advance notice of the FDTL changes, IndiGo hired insufficient pilots and did not restructure its crew scheduling system in time. DGCA inspectors were expected to monitor this readiness.
• Gross Mismanagement: The incident has been termed "gross mismanagement" by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who called for accountability by the airline management and the regulatory authorities.
• Accountability Ensured: The removal of inspectors is part of the wider government and regulatory drive to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent repeats of operational crises. The DGCA has also summoned IndiGo’s CEO to its office and deployed oversight teams at the airline’s headquarters.

Indigo Faces Pilot Shortage Linked to New Crew Rostering Rules

According to sources, the inspectors' dismissal comes amidst IndiGo's alleged failure to hire enough pilots despite the FDTL and crew rostering rules, due to come into effect on July 1, 2025, and November 1, 2025, respectively. These would have expanded the airline's requirements across its fleet.

The shortage meant IndiGo was not in a position to fulfill the new FDTL, particularly for its Airbus A320 fleet. The only alternative before the DGCA was to indefinitely postpone the implementation of the new FDTL till February 10, 2026, in order to avoid further cancellations of flights.

IndiGo Maintains Pilot Strength; DGCA Urges Hiring

It was only recently, much after the staff problem surfaced, that IndiGo still kept on saying there was no shortage of pilots. However, DGCA has asked the airline now to quicken its recruitment of pilots to meet the regulatory requirements.

Growing Disconnect Between Indigo Pilots and Management

The sources exposed the growing gap between IndiGo pilots and management, particularly in the airline's Operations Control Centre (OCC). A few disputes that heightened tensions:

• For a time, night landing payments were withheld; at least one group of pilots refused assignments involving night landings.
• New flying-hour caps instituted in new contracts frustrated the crew members even more.
• Added to this were alterations to salary structures and policies of medically unfit or sick leave.

A source said, “There is complete disconnect and mistrust between the pilots and the management. The operations control centre (OCC) of the airline is thoroughly hated by IndiGo pilots. An extra allowance was paid for night landings which was stopped for a while and so pilots started refusing the same. New contract capped flying. A number of things happened that only widened the gulf between pilots and management.”

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