The IndiGo Scapegoat Gambit: When Systemic Failure Finds Convenient Targets

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has been hit by widespread flight disruptions over the past weeks, inconveniencing thousands of passengers. Officially, the narrative points to regulatory lapses and supervisory failure. But scratch the surface and a far more disturbing picture emerges—one of corporate risk-taking, regulatory complacency and, finally, a calculated move to shift blame onto the weakest links in the system. At the heart of the disruption lies the implementation of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, meant to address pilot fatigue and enhance flight safety. These norms were not sprung as a surprise. Airlines were given adequate notice and a defined transition period to align their manpower planning and schedules. IndiGo, however, appears to have pushed its