India’s aviation regulator is under intense scrutiny after veteran pilot Capt Shakti Lumba shared photographic and video evidence on X, claiming IndiGo employees have unrestricted, unsupervised access to sensitive DGCA computers in the Flight Standards Directorate. The posts, dated December 15, 2025, explicitly name two IndiGo staff—Gaurav and Mahender—as using official systems belonging to the Chief Flight Operations Inspector (CFOI) Capt Shweta Singh and Deputy CFOI Capt Adhiraj Yadav. These allegations, building on Lumba’s earlier December 7 warning of “penetration” at DGCA, come amid lingering questions over temporary FDTL relaxations granted to IndiGo following its massive operational disruptions.
As of December 15, 2025, no official statement from DGCA or IndiGo verifies or refutes the visuals. The claims, amplified by aviation journalists and insiders, highlight potential regulatory capture risks in a sector dominated by one player.
The Ongoing FDTL Fallout: Context for the Latest Allegations
Revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, effective November 1, 2025, aimed to curb pilot fatigue with stricter rest periods and night-duty caps. IndiGo, commanding over 60% market share, faced the brunt—reporting thousands of cancellations in early December due to crew shortages.
DGCA responded with exemptions until February 2026, easing night duties and rest requirements. Critics, including pilot unions, argued this undermined safety. IndiGo maintained the issues stemmed from unforeseen impacts, but insiders suggested deliberate under-preparation to force concessions.
The crisis peaked with over 1,200 cancellations in November, per official data, and drew parliamentary scrutiny.
Capt Shakti Lumba’s Initial Warning and Escalation with Evidence
Capt Lumba, a former IndiGo operations head, first raised alarms on December 7, 2025: “IndiGo employees have unrestricted access [to] FSD department computers and go as far as even drafting CARs.” He called for an internal probe and restricted entry.
Link: https://x.com/CaptShaktiLumba/status/1997565059837649077
On December 15, he followed up with visuals, quoting his earlier post: photos and a video showing IndiGo-badged individuals at the CFOI’s desk, one apparently alone after hours. He accused the CFOI of complicity, noting her lack of recent flying currency and undeclared conflicts.
Primary post: https://x.com/CaptShaktiLumba/status/2000462580020891659 (with corrections and detailed descriptions)
Earlier version: https://x.com/CaptShaktiLumba/status/2000443737651265590
The evidence includes a video walkthrough and close-ups of badges.
Amplification: Named Staff and Calls for Sackings
Aviation journalist Shyamprasad Mishra directly named the employees on December 15: “Indigo employees Mr Gaurav and Mr Mahender” accessing CFOI and Deputy CFOI computers “for issuance of approvals for Indigo.” He demanded immediate sackings to restore trust.
Link: https://x.com/ShyamPrasad1975/status/2000468051586695580
Another user shared similar visuals, questioning unauthorized access.
Link: https://x.com/Prakash20202021/status/2000502296749477996
Sanjay Lazar referenced Lumba’s post, calling for CBI probe into alleged nexus.
These posts have garnered thousands of views and reposts, fueling debate.
Why This Access Raises Red Flags: Independence and Safety Concerns
FSD handles critical approvals, audits, and rule drafting. Unsupervised airline access could enable undue influence—particularly troubling given IndiGo’s resistance to FDTL changes.
From covering regulatory tussles for years (recall similar whispers during past audits), visuals of badges on official desks cross a line. If authenticated, they suggest systemic lapses beyond the FDTL saga.
DGCA has deployed teams to IndiGo’s HQ for monitoring, but these claims imply influence in the opposite direction.
Broader Sector Implications: Monopoly Risks and Passenger Impact
IndiGo’s dominance amplifies such concerns. Temporary relaxations restored flights but sparked fatigue worries from pilots. Passengers endured delays, uneven refunds, and fare spikes.
Anonymous employee letters, shared earlier by Lumba, highlighted internal pressures contributing to the meltdown.
No mainstream outlets have covered these specific December 15 visuals yet, but the X discourse is intense.
Path Forward: Demands for Probes and Reforms
Lumba and others urge independent inquiries—perhaps CVC or CBI—to verify access logs and visuals. Strict protocols, conflict declarations, and vacancy fills (DGCA runs at half strength) are overdue.
Longer-term: Address market concentration to prevent perceived capture. Strengthen pilot input in rulemaking.
India’s skies are booming, but impartial oversight is non-negotiable.
This episode tests institutional resilience. Unproven allegations can harm reputations; proven ones demand swift accountability. Transparency now will determine if trust holds—or erodes further. The sector’s post-crisis recovery hinges on it.
