07 December,2025 01:59 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Murlidhar Mohol. Pic/X
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Sunday said that passengers have endured mental harassment and distress due to IndiGo's ongoing operational crisis and assured that steps are being taken to ensure accountability is fixed, reported news agency PTI.
IndiGo has cancelled more than 2,000 flights and delayed others, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at several airports around the country since Tuesday.
The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has constituted a four-member inquiry panel to determine reasons for the current situation and recommend mitigation measures, and has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers.
Talking to reporters, Mohol said, "All passengers have suffered mental distress and have had to face many difficulties. They had to endure mental harassment because of IndiGo," reported PTI.
Action will be taken after the four-member committee submits its report, he said, adding that accountability will be fixed, and nobody will be spared.
"Certain responsibilities that IndiGo was expected to carry out were not fulfilled, and this is what led to the present situation. The DGCA has formed an inquiry committee and set up a control room. It has also issued a notice to IndiGo. Limits on ticket sales have been imposed on all airline companies," he said, reported PTI.
Mohol said that instructions have been given to ensure all passengers whose flights were cancelled are refunded.
Meanwhile, IndiGo cancelled more than 220 flights at Delhi and Mumbai airports on Sunday, as the disruptions entered the sixth day while efforts are on to normalise operations.
The disruptions have resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays in the last few days, causing hardships to thousands of passengers.
Sources said at least 112 flights were cancelled at the Mumbai airport and 109 flights at Delhi airport.
After cancelling approximately 1,600 of its 2,300 daily flights on Friday, the airline saw a reduction in disruptions on Saturday, with cancellations falling to around 800, sources told PTI.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO and Accountable Manager Porqueras on Saturday received DGCA notices, seeking explanations within 24 hours on the massive flight disruptions.
"The main objective (of operating just 700 flights on Friday) was to reboot the network, systems, and rosters so that we could start afresh today (Saturday) with higher number of flights, improved stability, and there are some early signs of improvement," IndiGo had said in a statement.
The airline said it operated 1,500 flights on Saturday.
In the notices sent to Elbers and Porqueras, the regulator said the large-scale operational failures indicate significant lapses in planning, oversight and resource management.
The notices mentioned that the primary cause of the flight disruptions is non-provisioning of adequate arrangements to cater to the revised requirements for smooth implementation of the approved FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) scheme for the airline.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Elbers and Porqueras to reply within 24 hours.
(With inputs from PTI)
