IndiGo’s failure to comply with FDTL norms led to crisis: Chandrababu Naidu
Amaravati, Dec 8 (LatestNewsX) – Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters on Monday that the country‑wide chaos sparked by IndiGo’s sudden flight cancellations stemmed from the carrier’s failure to follow the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules suggested by Parliament’s Standing Committee.
“The FDTL standards were put in place to bring India up to international safety norms,” he explained at a press briefing held in the state. “These regulations set clear limits on how long a pilot can work, how much rest they must get, and the overall conditions for the crew,” he added, stressing that exceeding those limits makes operations unsafe.
Naidu pointed out that IndiGo, as a low‑cost airline, had long struggled to keep enough crew on hand. When the FDTL rules finally took effect, the carrier had to comply immediately, which forced it to cancel 550 flights on December 4 and almost 600 more the next day.
“This abrupt stoppage has severely inconvenienced passengers because IndiGo’s roster planning was inadequate,” he said. He said the central government has since relaxed some of the FDTL provisions on a temporary basis, and normal service should resume soon. Given that IndiGo operates roughly 60‑65 % of all domestic flights, the cancellations created a crisis.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president, however, expressed confidence that the Centre will resolve the issue. He noted that the government has already directed that refunds be issued to all affected travelers, and the airline has already returned most of the fares.
Naidu responded to the opposition YSR Congress party’s call for the resignation of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. “The minister is accountable to Parliament and to the Hon’ble Prime Minister,” he asserted, and accused the critics of politicizing a national emergency. “They’re looking to make a spectacle of the crisis and divert attention from their own missteps. This is a matter solely for the Centre. As a Chief Minister, I don’t interfere with the work of Central Ministers—that’s the Prime Minister’s remit,” he said.
He reiterated that both the government and the airline are taking corrective measures to restore smooth operations.
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