IndiGo Crisis Exposed: Pilot Shortage Not the Issue, Roster System Glitch Caused Havoc

New Delhi: The recent chaos in India’s aviation sector, attributed to IndiGo, was not due to a shortage of pilots but stemmed from a malfunction in the airline’s automatic roster system, sources reveal.

Software Glitch Sparks Disruption

According to insiders, the problems began after a global software update was mandated for the Airbus-320 fleet following an incident involving JetBlue Airlines on 30 October in the United States. IndiGo was under pressure to upgrade its software across 200 aircraft between 29 November and 30 November.

To meet deadlines, IndiGo routed planes through its six maintenance centers across India, disrupting the alignment of pilots and flight schedules. The airline’s roster system could not handle the sudden operational stress.

Manual Efforts Fail to Stabilize Flights

IndiGo attempted to manage the disrupted schedule using both manual and automatic systems, but the efforts failed. From 2 December onwards, multiple flights were canceled, creating significant inconvenience for passengers nationwide.

Issue Reaches Parliament and Courts

The crisis caught the attention of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, where lawmakers raised the matter and demanded discussions. Simultaneously, the issue is under judicial review in the Delhi High Court, after the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, directing petitioners to approach the High Court instead.

Experts note that while pilot shortages often make headlines, technological glitches like these can paralyze operations and affect thousands of travelers, highlighting the urgent need for robust and stress-tested airline software systems.