Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 12: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) following major operational disruptions at IndiGo, which led to thousands of passengers being stranded and hundreds of flights being cancelled. On Friday alone, Bengaluru Airport reported 54 flight cancellations, including 31 arrivals and 23 departures.

FOIs, senior officials responsible for regulatory oversight and safety compliance in airline operations, play a critical role in monitoring airline adherence to aviation standards, conducting inspections, audits, and ensuring pilot and crew certifications. Sources confirmed that the suspended officials were linked to lapses in oversight during the ongoing IndiGo crisis.

IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier, had already cancelled over 200 flights from Delhi and Bengaluru on Thursday, prompting heightened DGCA scrutiny. DGCA officials have stationed themselves at the airline’s headquarters and have been actively monitoring operations.

CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras are scheduled to appear before the DGCA inquiry panel again on Friday. The four-member committee, comprising Joint Director General Sanjay Brahamane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, senior FOI Kapil Manglik, and FOI Lokesh Rampal, is tasked with investigating the root causes of the disruptions, including manpower planning, rostering issues, and compliance with new pilot duty and rest norms effective from November 1, 2025.

The DGCA’s move to suspend the FOIs underscores the regulator’s intensified response to operational failures in India’s aviation sector and signals stricter enforcement of safety and operational standards in domestic airlines.