Four flight op inspectors sacked over IndiGo crisis

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sacked four flight operations inspectors (FOIs) responsible for keeping oversight of IndiGo's operations that triggered cancellations of flights across airports.

- DEEPAK PATEL

FOIs are airline pilots who come to the DGCA on deputation for oversight duties but legally remain on the rolls of their parent carrier. Once their deputation ends or the airline seeks their return, the DGCA sends them back.

Meanwhile, in a post on X on Friday, the airline said it estimates that the compensation to customers whose flights were cancelled within 24 hours of departure time and/or to those severely stranded at certain airports would be in excess of ₹500 crore.

In an order dated December 11, the regulator said that FOIS -Rishi Raj Chatterjee, Seema Jhamnani, Anil Kumar Pokhariyal, and Priyam Kaushik ―are "hereby relieved" from the DGCA with immediate effect to rejoin their respective parent organisations (airlines).

IndiGo cancelled over 4,200 flights between December 1 and 9. The crisis was triggered by the airline's inability to manage its pilot duty roster after the DGCA fully implemented new, stricter rest and duty regulations last month, which increased weekly rest requirements and reduced the hours pilots can fly at night.