What caused IndiGo Crisis? Investigation panel submits report to DGCA and Government; It was triggered by…

New Delhi: The panel investigating the large-scale flight cancellations at IndiGo submitted its report to the aviation regulator DGCA on Friday evening, December 26. This committee was formed on December 5. However, the details of the report have not been made public.

IndiGo Had Employed 4,575 Pilots

Meanwhile, according to a report in Hindustan Times, a separate systematic review by the DGCA stated that IndiGo had employed 4,575 pilots to operate its fleet of 307 Airbus aircraft in November.

This was 891 more than the 3,684 pilots required under global best practices. This suggests that the flight cancellations were due to scheduling (roster) irregularities, not a shortage of crew.

Indigo Issues Travel Vouchers Worth Rs 10,000

IndiGo has started issuing travel vouchers worth Rs 10,000 to passengers affected by the flight cancellations. These vouchers will be valid for 12 months and can be used on any IndiGo flight.

Earlier in December, IndiGo cancelled more than 5,000 flights within 10 days, stranding thousands of passengers across the country.

Investigation Panel And Review Ordered By DGCA

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had also ordered a systematic review to determine whether the airline’s preparations were adequate in light of the changed regulations. This review was initiated after the airline refunded more than Rs 1,500 crore to passengers.

It revealed that six crew sets are maintained for each aircraft to cover operations, training, leave, and emergency conditions. Indigo had also submitted its response to the DGCA regarding this entire crisis, stating that the number of pilots was more than the prescribed limit, and the real problem lay in the scheduling and rostering of pilots.

Airline’s Crew Utilization Was 55%

The review also revealed that the airline’s crew utilization was 55% compared to the 100 hours per month allowed by regulations. According to DGCA’s minimum standards, Indigo’s November fleet required only three crew sets per aircraft, or 1842 pilots, which is less than half the number of pilots employed by the airline.

Inquiry Panel Submits Report To Government

The inquiry panel comprised DGCA Director General Sanjay Brahmne (Chairman), Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, Senior Flight Operations Inspector Captain Kapil Manglik, and Flight Operations Inspector Captain Rampal. The panel reviewed and investigated the circumstances that led to the flight cancellations. Copies of the report have also been given to the Minister of Civil Aviation K. Rammohan Naidu and Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha.