DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22.2 Crore for Safety Violations

DGCA Fines IndiGo ₹22.2 Crore for Safety Violations

Why in News? 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined IndiGo ₹22.2 crore for serious safety and operational violations after massive flight disruptions in December 2025 that left over 3 lakh passengers stranded. 

Highlights of DGCA’s Record Penalty Action IndiGo

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a record ₹22.20 crore penalty on IndiGo Airlines under enforcement orders following widespread flight disruptions in early December 2025 that left more than 3 lakh passengers stranded across the country.
• This penalty, the highest ever levied on any Indian airline, stems from findings by a four-member DGCA inquiry committee formed on directions of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to investigate the operational collapse between 3 and 5 December 2025, when 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 delayed.
• The ₹22.20 crore fine comprises two parts: a one-time penalty of ₹1.80 crore for multiple violations of Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), including ineffective implementation of regulatory requirements, and ₹20.40 crore charged as a daily non-compliance penalty for 68 days from 5 December 2025 to 10 February 2026 for continued breaches of the revised norms.
• In addition to the financial penalty, the DGCA directed IndiGo to furnish a ₹50 crore bank guarantee under the newly established IndiGo Systemic Reform Assurance Scheme (ISRAS) to ensure adherence to regulatory directives.
• The regulator also took personal enforcement actions by issuing warnings to top executives, including the airline’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and by ordering the removal of the Senior Vice President of the Operations Control Centre from his operational role due to accountability lapses. 

What Triggered the December 2025 Disruptions?

• Non-Compliance with Revised FDTL Rules: The principal trigger was IndiGo’s failure to adequately adjust to the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reduce pilot fatigue and improve safety. These rules, introduced in phases and fully effective from November 1, 2025, imposed stricter limits on duty hours, night duty, and rest periods for pilots. IndiGo lacked sufficient crew buffer and legal rostering flexibility, crippling its ability to operate under the new regime. 
• Over-Optimised Operations and Thin Buffers: DGCA’s inquiry found that IndiGo’s network planning and crew roster systems were over-optimised, with minimal operational buffer margins. This meant the airline’s schedules were extremely tight, leaving little room to recover from delays or manage crew rest constraints. Without proper buffers, even small disturbances cascaded into mass cancellations.
• Crew Shortages and Manpower Planning Gaps: IndiGo significantly underestimated the number of pilots and crew required under the new duty regulations. Despite having more than a year’s notice, the carrier did not expand its crew complement sufficiently, leading to pilot shortages that directly impacted flight operations. Other Indian carriers adapted better.
• System Software and Operational Control Issues: Deficiencies in crew rostering software and operational control systems worsened the situation. The systems failed to generate legally compliant schedules or effectively manage real-time disruptions, causing planning breakdowns and delayed corrective action during the crisis.

Impact of this Action 

• Passengers: Such enforcement strengthens accountability by compelling airlines to prioritise timely operations, accurate information flow, and fair compensation during delays. A strong penalty signals that large carriers cannot ignore duty-time norms, helping prevent mass cancellations that stranded over 3 lakh passengers in December 2025.
• Aviation Safety: Strict action reinforces aviation safety standards, especially those related to pilot fatigue management and operational risk mitigation. DGCA’s penalty emphasises that safety cannot be compromised for operational efficiency. It sets a precedent compelling all airlines to strengthen fatigue-risk management systems.
• Sectoral Governance: The DGCA’s record penalty shows an assertive shift toward proactive, data-driven oversight and strict enforcement of Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs). The requirement of a ₹50-crore systemic reform bank guarantee introduces a new model of regulatory assurance that ties compliance directly to financial accountability.