New Delhi, Dec 7 (NationPress) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has held IndiGo’s senior management responsible for the ongoing flight disruptions, issuing a show-cause notice to its CEO Pieter Elbers. This comes as the low-cost airline canceled additional flights on Sunday amidst a growing crisis.

The aviation authority has demanded an explanation from him within 24 hours regarding why enforcement actions should not be taken due to widespread delays and cancellations that have disrupted air travel throughout the nation.

The regulations that the airline failed to comply with are 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, along with Civil Aviation Requirements concerning pilot fatigue management.

According to the DGCA notice, "Such extensive operational failures suggest serious lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management, indicating prima facie non-compliance on the part of the airline."

"As the CEO, you are accountable for ensuring effective management of the airline, yet you have neglected your duty to guarantee timely arrangements for reliable operations and the availability of necessary facilities for passengers," the notice stated.

The DGCA highlighted the "massive disruptions" in IndiGo’s schedule, resulting in "severe inconvenience, hardship, and distress" for travelers. The notice also emphasized that the large-scale operational breakdown points to "significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management."

In a video message released on Friday, Elbers mentioned that considering the size, scale, and complexity of their operations, it will take some time to return to a fully normal state, which they anticipate will occur between December 10 and 15.

During a discussion with IANS, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu stated that measures have been put in place to mitigate further issues for passengers amid the ongoing crisis of cancellations and delays involving IndiGo.

He also noted that any necessary stringent action against the airline will be taken following an investigation.

"We are conducting a comprehensive investigation into IndiGo. We will take whatever steps are essential with the utmost caution. The Ministry has also formed a four-member team for this purpose," said the minister.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has imposed a nationwide cap on domestic airfares to control the sharp and sudden rise in ticket prices following the massive disruptions at IndiGo. The cap ranges from Rs 7,500 to Rs 18,000, depending on the route's length.