IndiGo Crisis Enters Seventh Day as False Video of Aviation Minister Circulates

IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline, continues to grapple with what experts are calling its worst operational crisis in company history. The carrier has canceled more than 4,500 flights over the past week, with disruptions continuing into their seventh consecutive day on Monday.

Amid the turmoil affecting thousands of travelers across India’s aviation network, a video began circulating on social media purportedly showing Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu dancing at an event during the crisis. The post accompanying the video criticized the minister, stating: “Flights delayed, terminals overcrowded, passengers helpless and the Aviation Minister is dancing. This government has mastered one thing: entertainment over governance. Stop dancing and start managing the mess you created.”

However, an investigation by India Today’s Fact Check team has revealed the video is from July 2023 and was recorded during the wedding celebration of the minister’s cousin in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh – months before the current aviation crisis began.

Multiple regional news outlets, including Tone News, News 18 Telugu, and ETV Andhra Pradesh, had previously reported on the minister’s attendance at the sangeet ceremony held at a resort in Bhogapuram. The reports clearly identified the event as family-related and unconnected to the current situation affecting IndiGo operations.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation further confirmed that Minister Naidu has been in New Delhi for several days, actively addressing the ongoing aviation disruptions.

The crisis has severely disrupted India’s domestic air travel network, with IndiGo commanding approximately 60 percent of the country’s domestic aviation market. Passengers have reported chaotic scenes at major airports, with many stranded for hours or forced to make alternative travel arrangements at significant personal expense.

In an exclusive interview with India Today on December 6, Minister Naidu placed responsibility for the crisis squarely on IndiGo, describing the situation as “unexpected and deeply unsettling for the aviation sector.” The minister, who represents the Telugu Desam Party as an MP from Srikakulam, emphasized that his primary concern – and that of the government – remains passenger welfare.

Industry analysts attribute IndiGo’s unprecedented disruptions to a combination of factors, including scheduling difficulties, crew unavailability, and possible operational mismanagement. The airline has struggled to maintain its usually reliable service standards, creating cascading effects throughout India’s transportation system.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, has reportedly sought detailed explanations from IndiGo regarding the mass cancellations. Sources within the regulatory body indicate that potential penalties could be forthcoming if the airline is found to have violated operational regulations or passenger rights provisions.

For travelers, the timing couldn’t be worse, as the disruptions coincide with India’s peak winter travel season when millions typically journey for holidays and year-end celebrations. Many affected passengers have taken to social media to express frustration over inadequate communication and compensation from the airline.

While IndiGo works to stabilize its operations, competing carriers including Air India, SpiceJet, and Vistara have attempted to accommodate stranded passengers, though their capacity to absorb the overflow remains limited given the scale of the disruptions.

The crisis represents a significant test for Minister Naidu, who assumed the Civil Aviation portfolio relatively recently. His handling of this situation will likely set the tone for government-industry relations in this critical sector that contributes approximately 7.5 percent to India’s GDP through direct and indirect means.