IndiGo's star-studded but inactive board failed passengers

The disruptions at IndiGo caused by repeated violations of Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms have placed the airline's board under direct scrutiny, raising questions about whether the group of nine directors discharged their legal duties as required under Indian company law.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

IndiGo’s operational breakdown did not take place suddenly. Pilot fatigue complaints had been increasing for months, rostering conflicts had become routine and several internal warnings indicated that the airline was approaching a point where it could no longer maintain lawful scheduling. Despite this, the board did not initiate any inquiry, did not direct management to realign duty schedules and did not intervene at any stage before the situation escalated into a nationwide disruption affecting thousands of passengers.

Stock exchange filings for the September 2025 quarter identify four independent directors and five non independent directors.

Independent director and chairperson Vikram Singh Mehta has previously worked in leadership roles in the energy and policy space and has served on governance platforms. Independent director Pallavi Shardul Shroff is a senior lawyer, who has been involved in regulatory and corporate matters for decades. Independent director Birender Singh Dhanoa has held positions across corporate sectors. Independent director Michael Gordon Whitaker has worked in airline operations and has direct exposure to how crew management and duty time structures function inside a commercial aviation environment.

These four directors are designated, under law, to ask questions, demand information, commission reports when required and ensure compliance with standards that affect safety and continuity of service. In this case, none of them appears to have reviewed the fatigue risk environment or insisted on corrective action even as the airline’s duty time practices began diverging from DGCA norms.