India witnessed one of its largest aviation disruptions in recent years as IndiGo, the country’s biggest airline, cancelled over 400 flights on December 5, 2025, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major airports. The chaos, fuelled by pilot-rostering issues and operational mismanagement, pushed the Civil Aviation Ministry to initiate urgent interventions.
Government Steps In
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced a high-level inquiry, aimed at determining responsibility for the breakdown in IndiGo’s operations. A four-member committee—comprising senior DGCA officials—has been tasked with identifying the root causes, assessing manpower gaps, and reviewing IndiGo’s compliance with revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The committee will submit its findings within 15 days.
To stabilise operations quickly, the Ministry temporarily placed the FDTL order in abeyance, easing certain duty-rest norms for pilots while emphasising that passenger safety will not be compromised. Authorities expect schedules to begin normalising by December 6, with complete restoration expected within three days.
Massive Passenger Impact
Airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Raipur and several others were hit hard. Long queues, missed connections, and hours-long delays led to frustration and protests. Some passengers reported waiting for over 12 hours, while others complained of misplaced baggage.
Key disruptions included:
- All IndiGo departures from Delhi cancelled till midnight
- All IndiGo flights in Bengaluru to Mumbai & Delhi cancelled till 11:59 p.m.
- Over 100 flights cancelled across Gujarat
- 31 flights each cancelled in Chennai and Goa
- Cancellations in Raipur led to visible passenger anger
- Several IndiGo aircraft remained parked due to unavailability of crew, causing congestion at multiple airports
Support Measures for Passengers
The Civil Aviation Ministry directed airlines—including IndiGo—to ensure the following:
- Automatic full refunds for cancelled flights
- Hotel accommodation for stranded passengers
- Lounge access and priority assistance for senior citizens and differently abled travellers
- Regular real-time updates through online systems
- Refreshments and essential services for all delayed passengers
Additionally, the Ministry set up a 24×7 control room to monitor the situation and coordinate corrective actions.
Wider Ripple Effect
Due to the sudden spike in travel demand, Northern Railways added an extra coach to the Jammu–New Delhi Rajdhani Express to accommodate affected passengers for the next seven days. Near airports, hotels and taxi operators reported price surges as stranded travellers scrambled for alternatives.
Pilot Bodies Raise Concerns
While DGCA granted IndiGo temporary exemption from night-duty limits until February 10, the Airlines’ Pilots Association (ALPA) India criticised the move, calling it a “dangerous precedent” and accusing the airline of expanding winter schedules despite knowing its manpower limitations.
Market Dominance Impacts Entire Aviation System
With nearly 65% market share in 2025, disruptions in IndiGo’s network have had a spillover effect across the aviation ecosystem. Travel and tourism stakeholders in Goa and other destinations fear temporary drops in footfall as the holiday season approaches.
The Road Ahead
As India enters fog season and peak travel months, DGCA has appealed for cooperation from all pilots and airline staff to maintain stable operations. The inquiry committee’s findings will be crucial in preventing a repeat of such large-scale disruptions and restoring consumer confidence in the aviation sector.
