Source News 18
New Delhi, Dec 12, 2025 — India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has sacked four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) responsible for overseeing IndiGo’s safety, compliance and operations amid the airline’s ongoing disruption crisis, officials confirmed on Friday.
The inspectors, who were tasked with monitoring IndiGo Airlines’ regulatory adherence — including pilot rest and duty rule compliance — have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect and directed to return to their respective parent organisations, according to a DGCA order.
Regulatory Oversight Under Scrutiny
The move follows last week’s massive disruption in IndiGo’s flight schedule, which saw hundreds of cancellations and delays, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded across major airports nationwide. Initial regulatory focus has been on the airline’s preparedness to implement tighter crew duty and rest regulations introduced this year.
FOIs are senior DGCA officials — usually experienced pilots engaged on a contract basis — appointed to ensure airlines comply with safety standards, crew training requirements, operational protocols and regulatory norms. They are considered critical to the regulator’s flight standards and oversight mechanisms.
Who Were the Inspectors?
According to the DGCA order, the four officials whose services were terminated are:
Deputy Chief Flight Operations Inspector Rishi Raj Chatterjee
Senior Flight Operations Inspector Seema Jhamnani
Flight Operations Inspector Anil Kumar Pokhriyal
Flight Operations Inspector Priyam Kaushik
Their removal marks a significant escalation in the ongoing crisis, underscoring the regulator’s response to questions over its own oversight lapses amid widespread operational failures.
Broader DGCA Response and Investigation
In addition to the sackings, the DGCA has summoned IndiGo’s top executives, including CEO Pieter Elbers and other senior officials, to appear before an inquiry panel investigating the root causes of the disruption. The high-level panel is reportedly probing issues such as manpower planning, crew scheduling and the airline’s implementation of the updated flight duty time limitations (FDTL).
The regulator has also deployed additional oversight teams at IndiGo’s headquarters to monitor ongoing operations, crew utilisation and customer service matters such as refunds and rebooking processes.
Impact on the Aviation Sector
IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier by market share, has faced sustained pressure to stabilise its flight network and restore passenger confidence. Industry analysts view the DGCA’s decisive action as an attempt to reinforce regulatory accountability and safety compliance in the aftermath of one of the country’s most disruptive airline crises in recent years.
Passengers affected by cancellations and delays have called for clearer communication and stronger enforcement of operational standards, while the regulator’s actions continue to evolve as investigations deepen
