IndiGo crisis | Aviation minister Naidu vows strict action to 'set an example'; flight services continue to be affected

'On December 1, we held a meeting with IndiGo regarding FDTL when they sought clarifications, and we provided them. They did not flag any issues then', Naidu said. He also said that the got is ensuring that the FDTL is properly implemented.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said IndiGo crisis was due to issues in its crew rostering and internal planning system.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said India's largest airline had to manage rosters for the crew through its day-to-day operations, adding that the government is ensuring that the FDTL will be implemented properly without any compromise.

"We made clear to airlines that all have to follow the rules. IndiGo was supposed to manage their crew roster. The DGCA sat with all airlines after safety risk assessment. There was one full month of operation under new FDTL. There have been internal complications. This is a day-to-day operations thing which indigo should have maintained," the minister said.

Naidu mentioned that the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules came into place on November 1. There were 22 FDTL guidelines, including 15 from July 1 and seven from November 1.

"We are ensuring that the FDTL is properly implemented, and there has been no compromise on that front. For a full month, we have been closely monitoring the situation. On December 1, we held a meeting with IndiGo regarding FDTL when they sought clarifications, and we provided them. They did not flag any issues then, and everything was running normally," Naidu said.

He added that the ministry stepped in when they observed issued on December 3.

"We took control of the situation at airports and consulted all stakeholders. You have seen how things unfolded over those two days. Passengers faced a lot of difficulty, and we do not take this situation lightly. We will take very strict action, not only for this case but as an example," the minister said.

He added that an inquiry was underway and that strict action against any miscompliance or non-adherence by any person, entity, organisation, or operator in civil aviation.

Over 250 flights at Delhi and Bengaluru airports alone were cancelled on Monday.

On December 7, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gave more time to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and the Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras to submit their responses to the show causes notices seeking their explanations on the flight disruptions. Both have been given time till 6 pm on Monday to submit their replies.

Further, addressing recent delays due to software issues, Naidu said strict Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are in place for passengers who have faced difficulties due to delays and cancellations

"For passengers who faced difficulties due to delays and cancellations, strict Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are in place, and airlines must comply. An inquiry has been initiated into the software issue. Continuous technology upgradation is part of this sector, and our vision is to ensure top global standards for India’s aviation sector."