A parliamentary committee on Wednesday sharply questioned budget carrier IndiGo over the widespread misery inflicted on passengers due to its mass cancellation of flights. The airline, however, pointed to a combination of factors including a system glitch and adverse weather conditions to explain the operational meltdown. Simultaneously, aviation regulator DGCA and the civil aviation ministry faced criticism for their handling of the crisis.
Unconvincing Explanations and Allegations
During the meeting, several committee members found the replies from different stakeholders to be "unconvincing" and perceived them as attempts to evade responsibility. This sentiment was highlighted when a government official stated he first learned of the unfolding ordeal through media reports. The panel, chaired by JDU MP Sanjay Jha, has decided to await the findings of an inquiry ordered by the DGCA before reaching its final conclusions and making recommendations. This DGCA-constituted committee was formed on December 5 and given 15 days to submit its report. The parliamentary panel plans to hold another meeting and is expected to recall the stakeholders.
The meeting witnessed a dramatic moment when Captain Sam Thomas, president of the Bengaluru-based Airline Pilots Association of India, alleged corruption within the DGCA. Committee members promptly asked him to refrain from making sweeping allegations without providing concrete evidence. Thomas insinuated that one could commit any wrongdoing and remain safe by "touching the right feet."
IndiGo's Defense and Lingering Suspicions
Despite offering a public apology for the passenger ordeal, IndiGo's response before the panel was described by a member as "far from apologetic." The airline, represented by its COO Isidre Porqueras, detailed multiple factors that derailed operations. These included a system glitch that required rebooting and adverse weather conditions that left pilots stranded in various zones. IndiGo informed the panel that all passenger luggage had been delivered, except for 52 unclaimed bags.
The committee's scrutiny occurred against a backdrop of serious suspicion, which is also under investigation. IndiGo is suspected of having engineered the disruption to pressure the ministry into rolling back newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) guidelines. These global norms mandate more rest for pilots to ensure flyers' safety. Implementing them would have required the airline to hire more pilots. Leveraging its market dominance, the chaos from IndiGo's operational breakdown allegedly forced the DGCA to temporarily relax the implementation of these safety rules. IndiGo management has reportedly denied these allegations in meetings with the ministry.
Stakeholders and Next Steps
Officials from other airlines, including Air India, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express, also appeared before the parliamentary panel. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and top functionaries from other stakeholders participated in the deliberations.
The panel has opted for a cautious approach, awaiting the DGCA's inquiry report before finalizing its stance. With another meeting scheduled, the parliamentary committee's investigation into the aviation fiasco is far from over, keeping the spotlight firmly on IndiGo and the regulators.
