Aviation Minister Steps In, Reviews Control Room Amid Worsening IndiGo Flight Crisis
Aviation Minister reviews crisis control room as IndiGo faces over 500 nationwide flight delays and cancellations.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu personally visited the ministry’s 24×7 control room on Friday morning to oversee the government’s response to IndiGo’s unprecedented fifth straight day of mass cancellations and delays, which saw over 500 flights disrupted nationwide. The ministry stated that real-time monitoring from all airports is underway, with consolidated data being shared with IndiGo and other carriers to mobilise additional staff and resources for stranded passengers.
In an official statement posted on X, the ministry said the control room is “continuously engaged”, as per the minister’s directives, to ensure seamless coordination among airport operators, airlines, air traffic control, and ground staff. Special emphasis is being placed on providing timely information, food, accommodation, and alternative travel options to affected travellers, many of whom have spent nights at airports without basic facilities.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also reached out to the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India), appealing for cooperation as the crisis threatens to spill over into the weekend. IndiGo, which operates nearly 2,200 flights daily, has admitted the disruptions stem from poor planning ahead of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms and has sought temporary relaxations until February 2026.
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The minister’s hands-on intervention comes amid mounting public anger and political criticism, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier terming the episode the “cost of the Centre’s monopoly model”. Airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai remain the worst hit, with long queues at rebooking counters and several passengers reporting being left without food or hotel vouchers.
With peak winter travel and the holiday season underway, the government has directed all airport directors to stay on high alert and extend full support to passengers until IndiGo restores normalcy, which the airline now projects will take until early next week at the earliest. The ministry has warned of strict action if passenger facilitation standards are not met.
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