“IndiGo Chairman Refutes Crisis Allegations, Says Board Worked on FDTL Rules for ‘Months’”

IndiGo chairman Vikram Singh Mehta, in his first public statement since the airline faced widespread operational disruptions last week, rejected allegations that the crisis was deliberately engineered or that the airline tried to influence the government regarding the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules. He also refuted claims that the airline’s board was not engaged on the FDTL issue, emphasizing that the board had been actively involved for many months. To address the disruptions, Mehta announced that an external technical expert would work with management to identify root causes and ensure corrective measures, preventing such events in the future.

Apologizing to tens of thousands of affected passengers, Mehta explained that he initially refrained from making a statement as the board prioritized supporting CEO Pieter Elbers and his team in restoring operations. With operations now stabilized, he said it was the right time to speak. According to Mehta, the disruptions were caused by a combination of internal and unforeseen external factors, including minor technical glitches, winter season schedule changes, adverse weather, congestion in the aviation system, and the phased implementation of updated crew rostering rules. He stressed that these factors pushed the airline’s systems beyond their limits and clarified that IndiGo complied with the FDTL rules, which aim to provide pilots with adequate rest and manage fatigue, particularly for late-night operations—critical for aviation safety.

The new FDTL norms, initially stipulated in January last year, were delayed in implementation and came into effect in two phases—July 1 and November 1—with the second phase significantly impacting IndiGo. The rules required airlines either to hire more pilots or reduce schedules to comply. Addressing concerns about the board’s involvement, Mehta reaffirmed that both the board and its risk management committee had received relevant information from management and were closely engaged in monitoring the implementation of the rules.

Some aviation experts and former bureaucrats questioned whether the board had acted effectively in the months leading up to the crisis. While Mehta confirmed that the board had received necessary updates on the new crew rest rules, he did not comment on whether it recognized IndiGo’s preparedness for the second phase rollout or intervened proactively.

Mehta, the Chairman and Non-Executive Independent Director of IndiGo, previously served as Chairman of Shell Group of Companies in India (1994–2012). The airline’s board also includes co-founder and Managing Director Rahul Bhatia, former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, ex-SEBI chief M. Damodaran, former FAA administrator Michael Whitaker, former Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, and Pallavi Shroff, among others, serving in various executive and non-executive independent roles.