India’s aviation crisis worsened on Saturday after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, demanding an explanation for the airline’s widespread delays, cancellations, and operational failures. The regulator gave him 24 hours to respond, warning that non-compliance could result in punitive action.
The DGCA said the disruptions, which have led to hundreds of daily cancellations, caused “severe inconvenience, hardship and distress” to passengers. It identified IndiGo’s failure to make essential arrangements under the approved FDTL scheme as the “primary cause” of the breakdown. The notice also highlighted significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management, and noted that passengers were not provided the required information or facilities during disruptions.
Authorities directly held the CEO responsible for failing to ensure reliable operations and passenger support. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered IndiGo to clear all pending refunds, reunite separated baggage, and set up dedicated grievance-support cells. As the airline struggles to stabilize operations, competitors like Air India are taking measures to assist stranded passengers, including capping fares, waiving fees, increasing seat availability, and operating additional flights.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers