IndiGo Crisis: What Can Centre Use To Remove Non-Indian CEO? DGCA Notice Shows The Way

Last Updated:December 07, 2025, 15:04 IST

Under India's civil aviation framework, senior airline management, particularly foreign nationals in key positions, must obtain security clearance from the home ministry

The show-cause notice to Pieter Elbers from the DGCA, dated December 6, 2025, forms the basis of the current scrutiny.(Image: AFP/File)

The Centre’s ability to influence or block the continuation of foreign nationals in key airline leadership roles has come under sharp focus following the DGCA’s show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, amid the nationwide flight crisis.

Under India’s civil aviation framework, senior airline management, particularly foreign nationals appointed in key positions like CEO, accountable manager, COO among others, must obtain security clearance from the home ministry. Without this, an airline cannot appoint or continue such executives in roles considered “sensitive" under aviation regulations.

While the exact Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) clause varies across scheduled and non-scheduled operator categories, the overarching requirement is clear: airlines must ensure that foreign nationals in top management hold valid security clearance from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) as part of the licensing and oversight framework. If such clearance is not granted at the time of appointment, the executive cannot assume charge.

Past industry experience has shown that security clearance outcomes can directly impact leadership structures in Indian carriers.

DGCA NOTICE FLAGS SEVERE OPERATIONAL LAPSES

The show-cause notice to Pieter Elbers from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), dated December 6, 2025, forms the basis of the current scrutiny.

The DGCA observed that IndiGo’s scheduled flights have experienced significant disruptions. “Whereas it has been observed that scheduled flights of M/s IndiGo Airlines have recently faced massive disruptions resulting in severe inconvenience, hardship and distress to passengers…" the notice states.

It states that the disruptions were linked to shortcomings in operational preparedness. “Whereas it has also been noticed that the primary cause of said flight disruptions is non-provisioning of adequate arrangements to cater to the revised requirements for smooth implementation of the approved FDTL (flight duty time limitations) scheme for the airline," it adds.

The aviation regulator noted broad lapses in planning and oversight. “Whereas such large-scale operational failures indicate significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management, and is prima facie non-compliance on the part of the airline…" the notice states, also placing direct responsibility on the CEO. “Whereas, as the CEO, you are responsible for ensuring effective management of the airlines but you have failed in your duty to ensure timely arrangements for conduct of reliable operations…"

The 24-hour response timeline is consistent with cases where the DGCA evaluates whether leadership failings could trigger regulatory escalation, including a review of the executive’s eligibility to hold a key post.

HOW DOES MHA CLEARANCE INFLUENCE CONTINUATION OF FOREIGN CEO?

If the DGCA finds the response by Elbers unsatisfactory, the matter can be escalated to the ministry of civil aviation that may, in turn, seek a review of the executive’s MHA security clearance – a requirement for foreign nationals in key aviation roles.

While there is no case so far when a sitting airline CEO has been removed mid-tenure due to withdrawal of security clearance, it is clear that it is a mandatory prerequisite for a foreign national to hold such positions. In practice, this means that the MHA clearance acts as an entry gate and, in theory, its withdrawal could prevent a foreign national from continuing.

Industry officials noted that foreign executives undergo deeper vetting, but Indian nationals in sensitive roles, too, are subject to MHA assessment when required.

WHAT ARE PAST INSTANCES WHERE MHA CLEARANCE HAS MATTERED?

India’s aviation sector has witnessed multiple cases where security clearance, especially for foreign nationals, influenced leadership decisions, delayed appointments, or shaped management structures.

At Jet Airways, during the carrier’s turbulent 2018-2019 period, questions were raised over the security clearance status of certain foreign executives. Public RTI (Right to Information) proceedings and media reports indicated that clearance-related queries delayed or complicated senior-level decision making.

At AirAsia India, which began as a joint venture involving a foreign airline, several foreign nominees had to await MHA security clearance before assuming managerial roles. In some instances, operations had to proceed with interim Indian leadership until formal go-ahead.

In pre-privatisation Air India, foreign specialists proposed for key operational appointments did not join because security clearance was either delayed or not granted, requiring the airline to appoint Indian executives instead.

These cases underline that although removal through clearance withdrawal has not been publicly documented, MHA clearance has historically played a decisive role in determining who can or cannot hold top roles in Indian airline services.

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