DGCA Fires Inspectors, Orders IndiGo to Hire More Pilots

India’s largest airline IndiGo continues to grapple with one of the most disruptive periods in its history as regulators tighten the reins on its operations amid mounting chaos at airports across the country. In a decisive move, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sacked four senior Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) for their oversight failures related to the crisis, and instructed the airline to urgently hire more pilots and strengthen its crew planning.

The decision to dismiss these inspectors who were charged with ensuring IndiGo complied with safety and operational standards signals a broader concern within the DGCA about lapses in supervision. It underscores that not only the airline’s management but also its watchdogs are being held accountable for the turmoil that has left thousands of passengers stranded.

IndiGo’s troubles began in early December 2025, when a failure to properly adjust to newly introduced pilot duty and rest regulations triggered an unprecedented wave of cancellations. Hundreds of flights were scrapped daily, baggage handling systems overwhelmed, and travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers thrown into disarray.

The DGCA’s intervention goes beyond firing inspectors. The regulator has also deployed an eight-member oversight team to monitor IndiGo’s flight operations around the clock, tracking crew availability, cancellations, refunds and passenger compensation efforts. This oversight group will report daily on progress, adding a new layer of scrutiny to the airline’s recovery efforts.

Industry observers say that IndiGo’s problems stem largely from chronic understaffing exacerbated by rapid network expansion. While the airline enjoyed a dominant share of India’s domestic market before the crisis, its strategy of lean hiring failed to keep pace with new regulatory demands and seasonal scheduling peaks. Critics say this mismatch between crew resources and flight schedules played a central role in the meltdown.

Passengers and professional pilots have also criticized the DGCA for earlier complacency, arguing that warning signs were overlooked and pilot staffing shortages underestimated before the chaos unfolded.

Civil aviation authorities, meanwhile, have reminded IndiGo that regulatory actions are geared toward restoring confidence, stability and safety in India’s skies. For travellers, the hope is that these strict measures will translate quickly into fewer cancellations and a smoother experience at airports something that seemed routine before this crisis hit.