The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended that aviation regulator DGCA carry out inspections to assess the effectiveness of airlines' safety management systems following a serious airprox incident involving two Interglobe Aviation planes. The recommendation comes after a comprehensive investigation into an incident that occurred in Delhi airspace on November 17, 2023.

Investigation Findings

The AAIB's 35-page final investigation report examined the airprox incident involving IndiGo's A321 aircraft operating flight IGO2113 from Delhi to Hyderabad and A320 plane operating flight IGO2206 from Delhi to Raipur. An airprox refers to two aircraft coming closer than the permitted distance between them, while Standard Instrument Departure Route (SID) pertains to the route an aircraft takes from take-off to the enroute phase.

Probable Causes Identified

The investigation identified several probable causes for the serious incident:

• Non-adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by the crew of IGO2113 during cockpit preparation
• Failure to update the SID when provided
• Inadequate measures taken to minimize disturbances during cockpit preparation
• Failure to cross-verify SID information during the TPC (Threats-Plan-Considerations) briefing
• Lack of monitoring during the climb phase

The airline's failure to take timely action despite repeated SID-related occurrences prior to the particular incident was identified as a contributing factor.

Pattern of Safety Concerns

AAIB's detailed examination of occurrence data provided by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) revealed a concerning pattern of safety incidents:

Scrutiny of occurrence and safety reports, along with technical logbooks for the involved aircraft, showed that no Pilot Defect Report (PDR) entries were recorded for any of the SID deviations. The two events were brought to the airline's attention through an email from AAI rather than internal reporting mechanisms.

AAIB Recommendations

The investigation bureau has made several key recommendations:

For DGCA:

• Conduct a one-time inspection to assess the effectiveness of safety management systems of all scheduled operators and air navigation service providers
• Reiterate rules to ensure compliance with prompt reporting of mandatory occurrences

For AAI:

• Conduct a study on unjustified Short Term Conflict Alert (STCA)
• Study other Air Navigation Service Providers conducting high-intensity simultaneous parallel departures
• Identify possible shortcomings in airspace design and Air Traffic Control procedures

Corrective Actions Taken

The report noted that IndiGo has implemented corrective measures including:

• Reiterating the importance of completing aircraft set-up before conducting briefings
• Ensuring correct Flight Management and Guidance System (FMGS) entry
• Avoiding disturbances during cockpit preparation
• Carrying out comprehensive cross-checks during training activities

The AAIB's recommendations underscore the critical importance of robust safety management systems and proper incident reporting mechanisms in maintaining aviation safety standards across the industry.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has launched an investigation into Interglobe Aviation 's business practices following significant operational disruptions that led to thousands of flight cancellations in December 2024. The anti-trust regulator has sought comprehensive information from both IndiGo and the aviation regulator DGCA to assess potential violations of competition norms.

Investigation Details and Scope

The CCI's probe centers on whether IndiGo, which commands over 63% of India's domestic aviation market, engaged in anti-competitive practices during the December crisis. The regulator has sent specific queries to the airline while simultaneously requesting information from DGCA, including data on airfares, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sector dynamics.

Regulatory Response and Timeline

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had responded swiftly to the December disruptions by reducing IndiGo's winter schedule by 10%. DGCA's investigation into the operational failures has been completed, while the CCI's assessment represents a separate regulatory track focusing on competition law violations.

On December 18, 2024, CCI officially announced its decision to proceed with the matter, stating it had taken cognizance of information filed against IndiGo in the context of recent flight disruptions across various routes. The commission confirmed its intention to proceed "in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002."

CCI's Assessment Process

CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur explained the commission's approach on December 19, 2024, emphasizing that the decision to investigate was based on specific information received. The regulator is currently conducting a prima facie assessment to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of anti-competitive practices to warrant a detailed investigation by its Director General.

Market Impact and Implications

The investigation focuses primarily on whether IndiGo abused its dominant market position during the operational crisis. As India's largest airline with a commanding market share, any anti-competitive behavior could have significant implications for the aviation sector's competitive landscape and consumer welfare.

The CCI's investigation represents a critical examination of how dominant players in essential services sectors manage operational crises and whether such situations are exploited to engage in practices that harm competition and consumers.