DGCA serves showcause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers

The DGCA on Saturday (December 6, 2025) served a show cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers seeking an explanation within 24 hours on why enforcement action should not be initiated against him for the large scale flight operations that have seen hundreds of flight cancellations over the past week.

“Whereas such large-scale operational failures indicate significant lapses in planning , oversight, and resource management, and prima facie non compliance on part of the airline” with the rules governing pilot rest and duty norms, read the showcause notice. The Hindu has reviewed a copy of this showcause notice.

IndiGo flight cancellations update on December 6, 2025

The rules the airline failed to comply are 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and Civil Aviation Requirements which pertain to fatigue management of pilots.

“Whereas as the CEO you are responsible for ensuring effective management of the airlines but you have failed in your duty to ensure timely arrangements for conduct of reliable operations and the availability of requisite facilities to the passenger,” the notice adds.

The CEO has to respond to the showcause notice within 24 hours on why “appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against you”, placing him under direct regulatory scrutiny.