The committee, chaired by Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane and formed on December 5, included senior officials who examined the causes behind cancellations that affected thousands of passengers. Copies of the confidential report were shared with Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha.
The disruptions peaked in early December when IndiGo cancelled over 5,000 flights in just six days, stranding travellers nationwide during peak season. The crisis stemmed primarily from the airline's struggles to adapt to revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, which mandate longer rest periods for pilots.
A separate internal review, cited in media reports, found IndiGo employed 4,575 pilots for its 307 Airbus aircraft fleet in November—891 more than the 3,684 deemed necessary under global standards. This suggests rostering inefficiencies, rather than an outright shortage, triggered the chaos, as the airline failed to realign schedules despite advance notice of the new rules.
IndiGo has maintained that pilot numbers exceed requirements, pinning the blame on scheduling flaws. The carrier responded to DGCA queries affirming adequate staffing but acknowledged gaps in planning.
In a bid to ease passenger hardship, IndiGo began issuing ₹10,000 travel vouchers, valid for 12 months, to those impacted by cancellations.
The ministry had also commissioned a systematic assessment of IndiGo's preparedness for the FDTL changes. With the probe complete, officials signal potential regulatory action, though details remain under wraps as the government reviews recommendations to prevent future breakdowns.
