IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, has appointed Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by veteran captain John Illson, to conduct an independent review of the recent disruptions in its flight operations. This decision was approved by the airline’s board.
The airline’s board chairman, Vikram Singh Mehta, announced plans to involve an external technical expert to assist management in identifying the root causes of recent disruptions and to prevent future occurrences. Concurrently, a government-ordered investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), initiated on December 5 amid significant flight cancellations, is in progress, with a 15-day deadline for the panel’s report.
Captain Illson has over 40 years of aviation experience with institutions like the FAA, ICAO, and IATA, and has worked with major global carriers. He has a strong background in aviation strategy, consulting, safety leadership, international standards, and aircraft technologies. His previous roles include advising the FAA on safety oversight and serving as chief of the Operational Safety Air Navigation Bureau at ICAO.
IndiGo has initiated an independent expert review approved by its Board to assess ongoing issues, according to a spokesperson. The review aims to provide a comprehensive report, though the timeframe for the root cause analysis remains unspecified. In a recent video statement, Mehta, a former chairman of Shell Group in India, refuted claims that the crisis was manipulated and emphasized the board’s involvement with the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules.
Some aviation experts criticized the airline’s board for its effectiveness in addressing a significant operational crisis. Although board member Mehta indicated that the board was informed about new crew rest rules, he did not confirm if they were aware of IndiGo’s lack of preparedness for these rules. Apologizing for the disruptions affecting many passengers, Mehta explained that the board prioritized supporting CEO Pieter Elbers and stabilizing operations before addressing the issue publicly. Now that operations have stabilized, he believes it is appropriate to speak out.
Mehta addressed claims regarding the airline’s board engagement, stating it has been actively involved with issues for months and has received pertinent information from management. The disruption at IndiGo was mainly attributed to insufficient preparation for new crew rest and duty norms effective November 1, resulting in crew shortages and widespread flight cancellations.
