IndiGo Hires External Firm to Probe Flight Crisis Root Cause

Amid mounting scrutiny from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, IndiGo’s board has approved the appointment of an external consulting firm, Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, to conduct an independent root cause analysis of its recent operational meltdown.

Key Details of the Investigation

• Consulting Firm: Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by Captain John Illson.
• Objective: To conduct an independent root cause analysis of the recent flight disruptions and suggest specific areas for improvement in the airline’s operations and planning.
• Expert Credentials: Captain Illson is a highly experienced aviation executive with over four decades in the industry, including leadership roles with the FAA, ICAO, IATA, and major global carriers. His expertise covers global aviation strategy, safety leadership, and setting international standards.
• Timeline: The review will commence “at the earliest,” and a comprehensive report will be submitted to the IndiGo Board upon completion.

Context of the Crisis

The announcement follows days of chaos across Indian airports, beginning around December 2, where IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, cancelled hundreds of flights.

The disruptions have been primarily attributed to the airline’s lack of preparedness in implementing the second phase of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for pilots, which required increased rest periods and reduced operational hours, leading to a massive crew shortage and rostering failure.

The move to hire external investigators coincides with:

• The DGCA sacking four of its Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) who were specifically responsible for oversight of IndiGo’s operations.
• The DGCA’s ongoing probe, which has seen IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras repeatedly summoned for questioning.

The decision to bring in a specialized, independent firm is an effort by IndiGo’s management to address the crisis and demonstrate a commitment to systemic correction beyond the immediate restoration of operations.