The Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has faraway from their positions 4 flight operations inspectors (FOIs) who have been the principal operations inspectors (POI) for oversight on IndiGo.Designated particularly for an airline, these FOIs (senior pilots) are supposed to maintain an in depth watch on the airline’s necessities and in addition see if they’ve the required sources by way of crew for his or her operations. Airline pilots go as FOIs to the short-staffed DGCA for some years. On this case, the 4 have been despatched again to their airline earlier than their time period bought over.In IndiGo’s case, officers stated, regardless of new flight obligation time limitation (FDTL) or crew rostering guidelines scheduled to return into impact from July 1, 2025, after which Nov 1, which might have elevated pilot requirement, the airline didn’t rent for a similar. The FOIs did not flag the problem, they stated.This led to a scarcity, with IndiGo unable to function as per new FDTL, which was then placed on maintain for Airbus A320 plane until Feb 10, 2026, to keep away from the form of mass cancellations seen earlier this month.“IndiGo was in dialogue with DGCA on the brand new FDTL and was conscious of the elevated pilot requirement. But they didn’t rent pilots,” stated an official within the know.Even after the fiasco, IndiGo maintains there is no such thing as a pilot scarcity. DGCA has directed the airline to step up its pilot hiring. In the meantime, IndiGo’s operations are practically again to regular, with over 2,050 flights Friday throughout 138 locations.Administration confronted rising rift with IndiGo pilots: OfficialThere’s a full disconnect and distrust between the pilots and the administration. The operations management centre (OCC) of the airline is severely disliked by IndiGo pilots. An additional fee was made for night time landings which was stopped for some time and so pilots began refusing night time flights. New contract had capped flying. Numerous issues occurred that solely widened the gulf between pilots and administration,” an official stated.The discontent in IndiGo pilots has arisen not merely for deferring FDTL implementation, but in addition on different fronts like tweaking wage parts, medically unfit and sick report coverage. Issues bought worse lately when some Indian carriers wished restriction on their pilots going overseas to work for international airways, primarily within the Gulf. “It’s okay for Indian carriers to rent expat high administration folks like CEOs and COOs however they’ve an issue with us going overseas to work. If you wish to retain us, then have higher relations with staff, higher work surroundings and pay package deal. As an alternative, airways solely need to arm-twist us. Perhaps issues will change now after the IndiGo fiasco,” added a pilot.