Delhi Airport Chaos: IndiGo Cancels 67 Flights Amid Technical Glitch, Crew Shortage

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Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) was hit by a series of cancellations and delays on Wednesday, with at least 67 IndiGo flights grounded due to technical glitches and crew shortages. The cancellations, which began on Tuesday midnight, affected thousands of passengers across major airports in India. According to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), 38 IndiGo flights were cancelled from Tuesday midnight to Wednesday evening. The airline attributed the cancellations to crew shortages following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules from November 1. FDTL limits the maximum time pilots and flight crews can work to prevent fatigue and ensure safety. The cancellations were not limited to Delhi airport. In Bengaluru, 42 flights were cancelled, while 32 flights were grounded in Mumbai. The airline's On Time Performance (OTP) dropped to 35 per cent at metro airports, according to the civil aviation ministry's data. IndiGo acknowledged the disruptions and apologized to its customers, citing 'operational challenges' including technology issues, airport congestion, and other operational requirements. The airline has initiated 'calibrated adjustments' to its schedules to contain the disruption and restore stability. Passengers affected by the cancellations can check the latest flight status on IndiGo's website before heading to the airports to minimize inconvenience. The airline is also offering alternate travel arrangements or refunds, as applicable. The disruptions were not limited to IndiGo. Other airlines, including Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, faced flight delays due to an outage in check-in systems globally for around an hour on Tuesday night. However, Air India reported that its system had been fully restored, affirming that all operations were functioning normally.