New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has dismissed four flight operation inspectors after gross negligence in operational monitoring of IndiGo airline came to light. These officers were responsible for monitoring the airline's security procedures and flight operations. Sources say that the inspection process was found weak at many levels, after which DGCA took strict action.
Did lack of adherence to safety standards deepen the crisis?
The airline was already accused of not implementing safety rules timely and strictly. The effect of this negligence was clearly visible in the last few weeks, when Indigo started canceling a large number of flights. Due to this, thousands of passengers suddenly got stuck and there was an atmosphere of chaos at the airports in many cities. This situation forced the regulator to take immediate action.
Why did DGCA deploy surveillance teams at IndiGo office?
Amid continuous delays and cancellations of flights, DGCA has appointed two monitoring teams at IndiGo's main operations center in Gurugram. These teams are responsible for daily review of key activities related to crew utilization, refund processing and operational management. The regulator has clarified that these teams will submit detailed reports by 6 pm every evening, so that the root of the problem can be identified quickly.
What operational aspects is the first monitoring team examining?
The first team is assessing the actual operating capacity of the airline. This includes total fleet numbers, available pilots, crew hours, and standby crew status. It is also being seen which sectors are being affected the most by crew shortage and how many flights are affected daily. The team is also gathering complete data on the daily functioning of the airline by keeping an eye on average flight time and network operations.
Does this investigation indicate major changes in IndiGo's operations?
Experts say such extensive monitoring is usually undertaken only when persistent shortcomings in an airline's operations are seen. The dismissal of four inspectors indicates that the regulator will no longer compromise at any level. In the coming days, the DGCA report will determine what further corrective steps IndiGo needs to take, so that flight operations can return to normal and passenger confidence comes back.
