The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has removed four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) appointed by IndiGo, as the regulator widens its crackdown following massive disruptions at the country’s largest airline.
In an order issued on December 11, the regulator said that “consequent upon approval of the Competent Authority,” four contract-based FOIs have been relieved with immediate effect to return to their parent organisations.
In its order, the DGCA named four officials: Rish Raj Chatterjee, a consultant serving as Dy. CFOI (A); Seema Jhamnani, SFOI (A); Anil Kumar Pokhariyal, a consultant serving as FOI (A); and Priyam Kaushik, also a consultant serving as FOI (A).
These executives were on IndiGo’s payroll while working with the DGCA under a long-permitted arrangement that allows airline-nominated personnel to support regulatory functions.
Regulator widens scrutiny over ‘failed’ oversight
According to people familiar with the matter, the action follows concerns that the officials failed to flag operational inadequacies at IndiGo that later contributed to the large-scale disruption.
FOIs play a critical role in the DGCA’s safety oversight system, conducting inspections, audits, and certifications of airlines, pilots, dispatchers, and cabin crew. They are tasked with ensuring compliance with training, flight standards, and operational safety norms.
IndiGo has already cancelled more than 50 flights on Friday, adding to the over 5,000 cancellations reported over the past 10 days due to flawed pilot rostering and operational challenges.
IndiGo faces intensified monitoring as crisis deepens
Meanwhile, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers is scheduled to appear again before the DGCA’s investigation panel on Friday.
On Thursday, the regulator intensified scrutiny by stationing officials at IndiGo’s headquarters to monitor operations in real time, while an inquiry panel questioned Elbers on the sequence of events leading to the disruption.
The ministry has already constituted a panel comprises Joint Director General Sanjay Brahamane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, senior FOI Kapil Manglik, and FOI Lokesh Rampal to investigate the crisis.
The team has been tasked with identifying the root causes of the airline’s operational breakdown and recommending corrective measures.
