The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted a one-time 24-hour extension to IndiGo’s Accountable Manager and CEO to submit their response to the show-cause notice issued on December 6 over the airline’s large-scale operational disruptions and regulatory non-compliances.

In a communication dated December 7, IndiGo’s top officials sought more time, citing operational constraints arising from the magnitude of disruptions across multiple airports, and the complexity of managing nationwide recovery efforts. After reviewing the request, the DGCA extended the deadline only until 6 p.m. on December 8, making it clear that no additional extensions would be allowed.

If IndiGo failed to furnish a complete and satisfactory response within the extended deadline, it (the DGCA) would proceed ex parte based on existing records and evidence, the regulator has warned.

The DGCA reiterated its commitment to ensuring passenger safety, strict regulatory compliance, and the swift restoration of normal airline operations in the wake of the ongoing crisis, and said it continued to maintain heightened oversight of the situation.

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.