IndiGo turmoil deepens as viral anonymous letter accuses leadership amid regulatory scrutiny

IndiGo Airlines, India’s largest carrier, is facing internal turmoil following a recent week of flight cancellations. An unverified open letter, allegedly from a long-serving employee, circulated on social media, accusing senior management, including CEO Pieter Elbers, of mismanagement, long work hours, and fostering a culture of intimidation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to Elbers, citing “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management” during the operational disruptions.

The anonymous author of the letter claims to have experienced detrimental working conditions, including excessive night duties and unaddressed safety warnings. It also criticizes the airline’s treatment of customers and suggests that management’s focus has shifted towards profit at the expense of safety.

Several senior officials were named in the letter, including heads of operations and flight operations. The DGCA’s notice also gave Elbers 24 hours to respond, threatening potential enforcement actions.

IndiGo’s board has convened an emergency meeting and activated a Crisis Management Group to address the situation, which has seen hundreds of flights canceled due to recent regulatory changes on flight duty time limitations that reduced crew availability. Meanwhile, the anonymous letter has called for government intervention regarding staff wages and safety regulations.

IndiGo has not publicly commented on the letter or its allegations.