New Delhi, Dec 12: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dismissed four flight operations inspectors as part of a sweeping crackdown following last week’s operational meltdown at IndiGo, officials said Friday.

The regulator did not specify the reason for the sackings, but the move comes amid intense scrutiny of IndiGo’s crew management and operational compliance. Flight operations inspectors are responsible for overseeing safety standards and ensuring airlines follow mandated procedures.

The action coincides with DGCA summoning IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers for back-to-back appearances before a four-member high-level committee probing the crisis. The panel has been asked to identify the root causes of the collapse, which triggered thousands of cancellations and left lakhs of passengers stranded across the country.

The regulator is also expected to question IndiGo on its recruitment process, rostering system and the steps being taken to restore normalcy. DGCA officials have said crew shortages were the primary trigger behind the disruption.

IndiGo, which controls nearly 65% of India’s domestic aviation market, faced one of its worst operational breakdowns last week, raising concerns about staffing practices, fatigue management and the adequacy of regulatory oversight.

More regulatory action is expected as the inquiry progresses.

On December 9, the DGCA ordered a 5% cut in IndiGo's daily flights, translating to about 115 cancellations from its 2,300 daily services.  

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Sources had confirmed the airline has been notified, with adjustments being planned to minimize disruption on critical routes. Authorities may impose an additional 5% reduction depending on how effectively IndiGo manages its operations in the coming days.