IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta has responded to allegations amid widespread flight disruptions in recent days. In a video message posted on X, Mehta rejected claims that the airline "engineered the crisis," attempted to influence government regulations, or compromised safety. "That we compromised safety. That the Board was not involved. These claims are incorrect," he stated.
Mehta emphasised that IndiGo fully complied with the revised pilot fatigue (FDTL) rules upon their implementation. "We operated under the new rules throughout, both in July and in November. We did not attempt to bypass them, nor did we do anything that negatively impacted our unblemished track record of safety," he added.
As the disruptions continue into their tenth day, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formed a dedicated oversight team to be stationed at IndiGo's corporate office in Gurugram.
According to an internal DGCA order, the panel was established "in view of passenger inconvenience caused due to large-scale disruptions in the operations of IndiGo Airlines at various airports across the country."
IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta has publicly apologised for the severe operational disruptions that began on December 3, describing them as "serious operational difficulties" triggered by an unexpected chain of events leading to widespread flight cancellations over several days. Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports, missing important family events, business commitments, medical appointments, and international connections, with many also facing delays or mishandled baggage that added to the distress. "I know how much distress this caused. We did not meet your expectations. And for that, we are truly sorry," Mehta said.
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The board's immediate focus was to support the executive team, under CEO Pieter Elbers, in stabilising operations and supporting affected customers. Mehta confirmed that the airline's network has now stabilised, operating over 1,900 daily flights across all 138 destinations with normal on-time performance.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Mehta announced that the board has decided to appoint independent external technical experts to collaborate with management in investigating the root causes of the disruptions, with the aim of identifying lessons learnt and implementing changes to avoid any recurrence.
Mehta firmly rejected various allegations, including claims that IndiGo deliberately created the crisis, sought to influence government regulations, or compromised safety. "We did not engineer the crisis. We did not try to manipulate government rules. Our safety record remains impeccable," he stated, reiterating full compliance with pilot fatigue regulations and emphasising that safety was never at risk.
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While recognising that some criticism was justified, Mehta stressed that an apology alone is insufficient. "We owe answers to our passengers, government, shareholders, and employees," he said, committing to a thorough operational review and efforts to rebuild trust by addressing any underlying issues.
This video message from Mehta represents the first public address by the airline's board chair on the crisis. Despite prior apologies and reform pledges from the company, concerns persist regarding support for employees who endured significant stress during the disruptions.
As IndiGo works to repair its reputation and strengthen operational resilience amid heightened scrutiny, the ongoing independent investigation is expected to guide the airline toward greater accountability, with a renewed emphasis on passenger safety and reliable service.
Also Read: DGCA’s oversight team to supervise IndiGo operations
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