IndiGo Chairman denies crisis was engineered, says safety and fatigue norms fully followed

IndiGo

chairman Vikram Singh Mehta publicly addressed the airline’s week-long operational meltdown for the first time on Wednesday, issuing an unambiguous apology and acknowledging widespread failures that left thousands of passengers stranded or delayed.

In a candid statement, Mehta said the disruptions caused “serious operational difficulties” that rippled across the country, derailing passengers’ family events, business meetings, and even medical appointments. Many also faced delayed or misdirected baggage—a problem that fuelled frustration as the crisis unfolded.

“I know how much distress this caused. We did not meet your expectations. And for that, we are truly sorry,” Mehta said.

According to him, the airline’s immediate priority over the past several days had been to stabilise operations and assist affected customers. IndiGo now says its network has returned to steadiness, with more than 1,900 flights operating daily.

But Mehta stressed that an apology alone is not enough.

“An apology cannot undo the inconvenience you faced. But acknowledging our failure is essential,” he said, adding that some of the criticism directed at the airline was “fair.”

“We let our customers down,” he admitted. “We owe answers to passengers, government, shareholders, and employees.”

Mehta dismissed speculation that the crisis was manufactured, stating unequivocally that claims IndiGo engineered the disruptions are incorrect. “We did not influence rules or compromise safety. We fully complied with pilot fatigue norms. Our safety record remains unblemished,” he said.

He noted that the disruptions were “not deliberate” but the result of a combination of internal and external factors. “This is not an excuse. It is the truth. Our systems were pushed beyond their limits,” he added.

The chairman said the Board was fully engaged throughout the turmoil, holding emergency meetings and forming a dedicated crisis group to restore operations. “Last week was a blemish on our clean record. The company has erred. There is no denying this,” he said.

Mehta acknowledged that IndiGo now faces the harder task of rebuilding trust. “This will take actions, not words. As Chairman, I apologise without conditions or excuses. We reaffirm our commitment to safety and reliability,” he said.

The chairman did not detail the underlying causes of the operational collapse, which has triggered scrutiny from the aviation ministry and market regulators, but his statement signals a shift from damage control to accountability as IndiGo works to rebuild trust.

Further updates from the airline on the reasons behind the crisis—and the corrective steps ahead—are expected in the coming days.