In a significant action aimed at tightening regulatory oversight, India’s aviation watchdog — the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — has terminated the services of four flight operations inspectors who were responsible for monitoring IndiGo Airlines’ operations.
According to senior officials, the dismissals follow an internal review that raised concerns about procedural lapses, oversight irregularities, and failure to adequately perform duties linked to the supervision of the airline’s flight operations. While DGCA has not publicly disclosed the specific violations, sources indicated that the inspectors were found to have “compromised the standards expected from safety regulators.”
The inspectors were part of the critical team that evaluates cockpit procedures, crew training standards, route checks, and overall compliance with aviation safety norms for IndiGo, the country’s largest airline by market share.
A DGCA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was taken to “protect the integrity of the regulatory framework and ensure that airline operations continue to meet the highest safety benchmarks.”
This move comes at a time when the aviation sector is under increased scrutiny due to rising passenger traffic, expansion of fleets, and recurring operational challenges such as pilot fatigue, on-time performance issues, and infrastructure constraints at major airports.
IndiGo has not issued a formal statement yet regarding the DGCA action. However, industry experts say the regulator’s decision sends a strong message that lapses within the oversight ecosystem will not be tolerated, particularly for airlines operating at the scale of IndiGo.
The DGCA is expected to initiate the recruitment of new inspectors soon to ensure uninterrupted monitoring of flight operations across airlines. The authority has also reiterated its commitment to strengthening safety compliance and enhancing regulatory accountability across India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.
