India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing one of the biggest operational breakdowns in its history. For four straight days, airports across the country have been hit with flight cancellations, long queues, and frustrated passengers demanding answers. Now, a viral “open letter” allegedly written by IndiGo staff has brought a new angle to the crisis — pointing fingers at planning failure rather than just technical issues.
The letter, circulating widely on social media, claims that the airline’s current situation is “not an accident” but a result of weak strategy and poor decision-making at the top.
Heavy Disruptions Across Major Airports
Passengers in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and several other cities have been dealing with last-minute cancellations and hours-long delays. With more than 500 flights cancelled in a single day earlier this week, crowds have been seen stuck in terminals without proper food or water arrangements.
IndiGo normally operates around 2,300 flights a day. But during the crisis, its on-time performance dropped below 20%, leaving thousands stranded.
What the Viral Employee Letter Claims
According to the widely shared letter, employees—including pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff—say that the collapse has been caused by:
- Poor planning
- Unpreparedness for new regulations
- Delayed hiring and crew shortages
- Ignoring frontline challenges
- Communication gaps between management and staff
- The letter says that while travellers blamed and shouted at frontline workers, the actual decisions that led to the chaos were made far away from the airports.
One strong claim in the letter is that the timing of the cancellations coincides with new crew-duty rules, which may have created additional pressure on operations. Staff suggest that the crisis may have escalated because the airline did not prepare properly for the new norms.
Frontline Staff Ask for Accountability
The letter demands three major actions from IndiGo’s leadership:
- Accept responsibility for the crisis publicly
- Clear frontline staff from blame
- Confirm whether regulatory pressure played a role in the collapse
The letter also mentions that despite being the ones facing angry passengers at airports, employees had no control over rostering, hiring, or planning.
IndiGo CEO Responds to the Situation
In a separate communication to employees, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers admitted that the airline “could not deliver” its usual levels of service. He explained that the disruptions were due to several combined issues:
- New Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules
- Technical problems
- Airport congestion
- Unpredictable weather conditions
He assured staff that the airline is working to stabilize operations as quickly as possible.
Understanding the FDTL Rules
FDTL — Flight Duty Time Limitation — is a safety regulation created to protect pilots and cabin crew from fatigue. Key rules include:
- Maximum 8 hours of flying per day
- 35 hours per week
- 125 hours per month
- 1,000 hours per year
The rules also require mandatory rest — at least twice the duration of flight hours, with a minimum 10-hour rest period within any 24-hour window.
The intention is to ensure safety for both crew and passengers. But airlines must plan well in advance to adjust schedules and hire extra staff when these rules change.
Why This Crisis Matters
IndiGo is the backbone of India’s aviation sector. With the highest number of flights and the largest market share, any disruption affects thousands of travellers every hour.
This situation has opened a big debate:
- Are airlines ignoring staff warnings?
- Is the aviation sector prepared for stricter safety rules?
- Should airlines be more transparent with passengers about internal challenges?
The viral letter has raised questions about how much pressure airline employees face — and whether management needs to rethink its approach.
Conclusion
The IndiGo crisis has exposed major cracks in operational planning, communication, and readiness for regulatory changes. Whether or not the viral letter is officially verified, it reflects the frustration of many employees who feel unsupported during one of the toughest weeks for the airline.
With flight cancellations continuing, passengers are hoping for quick solutions — and the aviation industry is watching closely to see how IndiGo recovers from this setback.
FAQs
What caused the IndiGo flight collapse?
A mix of new duty rules, technical issues, staffing challenges, and poor planning led to widespread flight cancellations.
Is the viral employee letter confirmed as genuine?
No. The letter is being shared widely, but its authenticity has not been officially verified.
Why were so many flights cancelled?
IndiGo struggled to manage crew schedules under the new FDTL norms, leading to staffing shortages and operational delays.
How many flights were affected?
In just one day, more than 500 flights were cancelled. Hundreds more were delayed across India.
When will operations return to normal?
The airline has not given an exact timeline, but officials say they are working to stabilize operations soon.