New Delhi, December 12 (UNI): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has dismissed four flight operation inspectors in connection with the recent IndiGo crisis, which led to massive flight disruptions earlier this month.
In an order issued on Thursday, the aviation regulator said the officers had been released from service with immediate effect and would return to their parent organisations.
The crisis erupted in the first week of December, when thousands of IndiGo flights were cancelled, severely inconveniencing passengers across the country.
Despite government-imposed caps on airfares based on distance, ticket prices continue to remain high. December 5 marked the peak of the disruption, with more than 1,500 IndiGo flights cancelled in a single day.
In response, the government has set up a four-member committee to investigate the matter and has ordered IndiGo to trim 10 per cent of its winter schedule operations.
Meanwhile, the airline on Friday announced that its board has approved the appointment of Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by veteran aviation expert Captain John Illson, to conduct an independent review and root cause analysis of the disruption.
Illson, who has over four decades of experience with global aviation bodies such as the FAA, ICAO, and IATA, as well as major international carriers, will spearhead the assessment.
IndiGo’s Crisis Management Group (CMG), constituted by the Board, had recommended bringing in an external expert to ensure a transparent and comprehensive evaluation. The review will commence immediately, and a detailed report will be submitted to the Board upon completion.
“This assessment will not only identify the root causes of the disruption but also highlight opportunities for improvement,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.
