Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the aviation crisis in the Rajya Sabha and firmly defended the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
He dismissed claims of regulatory failure and instead placed full responsibility on IndiGo Airlines for mismanagement that caused widespread flight delays and crew shortages.
Naidu insisted that there is “no compromise on safety” and emphasised that DGCA’s Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) guidelines remain effective. Furthermore, he said the Ministry mandated all airlines to follow rules and stressed that IndiGo failed to manage crew schedules properly. “We will take very strict action against IndiGo management to set an example for all airlines,” Naidu declared.
Earlier, the Standing Committee on Tourism had warned about pilot fatigue and urged strict enforcement of FDTL rules. In addition, the committee recommended mental health support, mandatory training for crisis handling, and continuous monitoring of crew fitness. It highlighted that updated guidelines issued in March 2024 would only succeed with rigorous implementation.
Naidu acknowledged operational variations across airlines; however, he reiterated that safety standards were never compromised. He assured passengers affected by delays and cancellations that Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) remain in place and must be followed by operators. Moreover, he confirmed an inquiry into software issues and underlined the need for continuous technology upgrades.
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