Even as IndiGo’s nationwide operational crisis entered its seventh day on Monday, a pilot from the airline, in an exclusive conversation with News18, said that IndiGo cancelled the flights on purpose to
create fake data and get rid of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). News18 reached out to IndiGo, but their response was awaited at the time of publishing the report. “The FDTL norms came in January 2024. But on November 1, even with special Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clearance, IndiGo still cancelled flights to create fake disruption data and pressure the regulator,” said the pilot, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The pilots wanted to fly, but the airline refused,” he added. The new rules were put in place in two phases this year, with the latest starting on November 1. As per the rules, the weekly rest period for pilots was increased by 12 hours, from 36 to 48 hours. The government said this would help pilots recover from tiredness. This rule is still in effect despite the IndiGo crisis.
ALSO READ | IndiGo Flight Status Today Live Updates HERE
By Monday morning, a total of 309 flights had been impacted so far, with airport authorities confirming that more than 200 flights would be cancelled today as well. Officials said that all cancellations planned for the day, 224 flights, had already been communicated to passengers in advance.
#Exclusive | Pilot tells #CNNNews18 @AnvitSrivastava
“FDTL norms came in Jan 2024. We knew the deadlines. But on Nov 1, even with special DGCA clearance, IndiGo STILL cancelled flights to create fake disruption data and pressure the regulator.”#WATCH– https://t.co/sfsUHRTbnz pic.twitter.com/4kZHPQrJ5R
— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 8, 2025
Was the chaos planned?
“The FDTL norms came in January 2024. We knew the deadlines. But on November 1, even with special DGCA clearance, IndiGo still cancelled flights to create fake disruption data,” he said.
“IndiGo started flight cancellation on purpose to create data to reflect that flight disruptions are being caused due to FDTL norms. Despite having special clearance from the DGCA, they started cancellations to create fake data and arm twist the regulator to get rid of FDTL. Pilots wanted to fly, but IndiGo refused,” the pilot said.
Is IndiGo short-staffed?
“We’ve always been told that IndiGo is overstaffed, there was no severe shortage… but with increased rest period additional crew is required but only 15-20%.”
ALSO READ | IndiGo Pays Rs 610 Crore In Refunds, Eyes Slow Recovery As 560 Flights Cancelled On Day 6
Profit over safety?
“At IndiGo, safety is at bare minimum, only ensuring any incident does not happen, but profit is all that this company wants.”
What should be done?
“If this was deliberate, it was criminal. They must be brought to justice. Not just penalty to airline but personal penalty to individuals responsible.”
The FTDL issue
To address pilot fatigue, a major concern highlighted in global aviation standards, the DGCA announced new FDTL norms last year. However, IndiGo failed to reorganise its crew roster in line with the revised rules.
#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal-1, where IndiGo passengers' luggage is lying, amid flight cancellations and delays pic.twitter.com/1WYb83stAv
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2025
To stabilise the situation, the DGCA has temporarily paused the implementation of the new safety norms.
As per the rules, the number of landings a pilot can do between midnight and early morning is now limited to two per week, down from six before. This is to improve safety because pilots are less alert at night. The government has paused this rule for IndiGo until February 10 because of the crisis.
The maximum time pilots can fly at night is now 10 hours. Night is defined as midnight to early morning. This rule is also on hold for IndiGo until February 10. If a pilot takes personal leave, airlines cannot count that as part of the required 48-hour weekly rest. The rest period must be separate from any leave, which pilots say was not always followed before. For now, all airlines are exempt from this rule to help restore normal air travel in India.
Airlines must now send quarterly reports about pilot fatigue and what actions they have taken to the Indian aviation regulator.
