DGCA Dismisses Four Inspectors Amid IndiGo Cancellation Crisis

The DGCA has terminated four Flight Operations Inspectors following a crisis involving IndiGo's widespread flight cancellations. A four-member DGCA committee will meet with IndiGo's CEO to discuss the disruptions, while IndiGo offers compensation to affected passengers. The Civil Aviation Ministry assures passengers that flight operations are stabilizing.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has terminated the employment of four Flight Operations Inspectors amid the crisis that saw a spate of flight cancellations by IndiGo.

The officials, identified as Rish Raj Chatterjee, Seema Jhamnani, Anil Kumar Pokhariyal, and Priyam Kaushik, have been relieved from their duties to return to their respective organizations as per a DGCA notice issued on Friday.

This action follows DGCA's increased scrutiny of IndiGo after the airline's continued cancellations and delays. A special four-member committee will engage with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to probe the flight disruptions further.

Despite a Show Cause notice issued to Elbers, IndiGo has sought additional time to respond, citing operational complexities as hindrances to pinpointing exact causes. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu reported to the Lok Sabha that the situation is stabilizing with reduced airport congestion.

Acknowledging the passenger challenges, IndiGo has offered Rs 10,000 worth of travel vouchers to those hardest hit by delays from December 3 to December 5. These vouchers are usable for future flights within a year.

(With inputs from agencies.)