Supreme Court PIL Seeks Urgent Action Over IndiGo Flight Chaos

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking immediate judicial intervention following what it describes as an “unprecedented operational collapse” at IndiGo Airlines, which has cancelled over 1,000 flights in recent days.

The petition, filed by ‘IndiGo All Passenger and Another’ through advocate Narendra Mishra, urged the Apex Court to take suo motu cognisance of the crisis. It termed the disruptions a serious violation of citizens’ fundamental rights, including the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.

According to the plea, the widespread cancellations and long delays have escalated into a “humanitarian crisis” at India’s major airports. Passengers, including senior citizens, infants, and those with urgent medical needs, were allegedly left without access to food, water, rest areas, or emergency assistance.

“The situation has transcended a mere contractual dispute between an airline and its consumers. It constitutes grave public injury and a clear violation of the Fundamental Right to Life and Liberty (Article 21) of Indian citizens,” the petition stated.

IndiGo has publicly attributed the disruption to planning lapses during the implementation of Phase-II of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots. The petition argued that neither the airline nor the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out adequate anticipatory oversight to prevent the crisis.

The PIL also highlighted the surge in airfares, which reportedly touched upwards of ₹50,000 on key routes, claiming this “held the travelling public hostage” and undermined the promise of affordable air travel.

The plea called for the formation of a Special Bench to hear the matter urgently. It sought directions for IndiGo to immediately cease arbitrary cancellations and provide alternative travel arrangements free of cost, including seats on other airlines or trains, for stranded passengers.

Additionally, the petition urged the DGCA and the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to file a detailed status report. This should include the full text of the revised FDTL norms, an assessment of IndiGo’s compliance, and a plan to ensure safe restoration of services.

Claiming that lakhs of passengers were left without basic necessities during this national-level crisis, the petition stressed that only immediate judicial oversight can restore accountability and public confidence in India’s civil aviation system.