TNI Bureau: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of ₹22.2 crore on IndiGo following massive flight disruptions in December that left over three lakh passengers stranded across the country.

The action came after the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered a probe into the disruptions. A four-member DGCA committee conducted a detailed inquiry into IndiGo’s operations between December 3 and 5, 2025, during which 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 flights were delayed.

The committee found multiple shortcomings, including over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, and deficiencies in operational oversight. The total penalty includes a one-time fine of ₹1.8 crore for six instances of non-compliance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), such as failures in implementing Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms and lapses in accountable management and operational control.

In addition, IndiGo has been fined ₹30 lakh per day for 68 days of continued non-compliance and has been asked to submit a bank guarantee of ₹50 crore.

Responding to the DGCA’s order, IndiGo said it will fully comply and take corrective measures. “The Board and Management are committed to taking full cognizance of the orders and will take appropriate steps. A comprehensive review of our internal processes is already underway to ensure the airline emerges stronger,” the airline said.