IndiGo brings in external aviation experts to probe causes of nationwide disruption

IndiGo's Board has approved the appointment of Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by aviation expert, Captain John Illson to carry out a "comprehensive" review to find out the factors contributing to the recent operational disruption, the company announced on Friday, December 12.

A spokesperson of the company said that the objective of appointing the "veteran," who has an "illustrious" track record in global air transport for the review, "is to conduct an independent root cause analysis of the recent operational disruption, besides opportunities for improvement."

Captain Illson has more than four decades of experience in aviation, across the FAA, ICAO, IATA and major global carriers, along with extensive expertise in global aviation strategy, customised consulting, safety leadership, setting international standards, and new aircraft technologies, the company said.

The decision was made following a recommendation from the Crisis Management Group (CMG)

set up by the company's board on December 7.

IndiGo said, "With the Board’s approval now in place, the review will begin at the earliest, and the independent expert reviewer will submit a comprehensive report to the Board upon completion.”

The airline, which operates India’s largest network, faced a major operational crisis last week, resulting in around 4,500 flight cancellations. Key airports, including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai witnessed severe congestion, long queues, and significant passenger inconvenience.