‘DGCA also at fault’: Congress MLA KN Rajanna on IndiGo flight disruptions

TUMAKURU: Amid widespread disruptions in air travel due to multiple IndiGo flight delays and cancellations, Congress MLA K N Rajanna said on Saturday that the disruption was also the fault of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the fingers cannot be pointed only towards the airlines.

He claimed it was due to the DGCA’s law, which ultimately led IndiGo to declare a pilot shortage, as it requires pilots to serve only eight hours. According to him, IndiGo Airlines was making its pilots work 10-12 hours, so when they had to comply with the law, they declared a pilot shortage.

Rajanna said, “Because of the shortage of pilots, the flights were rescheduled, and that’s why all these things are going on. The DGCA has a specific law requiring a pilot to serve only 8 hours, but IndiGo is making its pilots work 10-12 hours, which is also not correct. Now, as per DGCA’s insistence on eight hours, IndiGo has created a pilot shortage. For that reason, all this havoc is there. As DGCA is under civil aviation, we have to blame IndiGo, DGCA and the Civil Aviation Ministry”.

#WATCH | Tumkur | On IndiGo Airlines disruption, Congress MLA KN Rajanna says, “… The DGCA has a specific law that a pilot should only serve for eight hours. IndiGo is making their pilots for 10-12 hours… Now, as per DGCA’s insistence, it has created a shortage of pilots. For… pic.twitter.com/7vNivjpjIJ

— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2025

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday directed IndiGo to trace and deliver the baggage separated from passengers due to cancellations or delays within the next 48 hours.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu shared on X, announcing strict directives to IndiGo amid widespread cancellations and delays, ordering the airline to clear all pending passenger refunds and complete the entire refund process for cancelled or disrupted flights by 8 PM on December 7.

In a post on X, the minister said, “The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed IndiGo to clear all pending passenger refunds without delay and mandated that the refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be fully completed by 8:00 PM on Sunday, 7 December 2025. Ministry has directed IndiGo to ensure that all baggage that was separated from passengers due to cancellations or delays is traced and delivered to the passenger’s residential or chosen address within the next 48 hours.”

According to a statement issued by the ministry, airlines have additionally been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers impacted by recent operational disruptions. The Ministry warned that any delay or non-compliance in the processing of refunds would attract immediate regulatory action. (ANI)