'Nothing happened overnight'
The writer, identifying as a long-time IndiGo employee, reflects on the airline’s early days in 2006, when teams felt proud of what they were building. But that pride, the letter claims, “turned into arrogance, and growth turned into greed,” with a new internal attitude taking root: We are too big to fail.
The letter alleges that IndiGo aggressively oversupplied certain routes to choke competition, impacting newer airlines like Akasa Air. While passengers celebrated IndiGo’s punctuality and market dominance, the author claims it came at the cost of staff welfare and operational sanity.A significant portion of the letter highlights what the writer calls an unhealthy explosion of hierarchy. Individuals “who couldn’t even draft a proper email” started rising to vice-president level, the author alleges — primarily because such positions unlocked ESOPs and influence.
Employees, including pilots, engineers and ground staff, were reportedly “squeezed” to justify the growing layers of leadership. Pilots raising concerns about unsafe duty times, fatigue and operational pressures were allegedly shouted at, intimidated or humiliated — sometimes by senior management at the head office. “No consequences. No accountability. Just fear,” the letter states.
Ground staff earning as little as ₹16,000-18,000 a month were said to be stretched to extreme limits — running rapidly across aircraft, juggling multiple tasks, and performing the work of “three people.”
'We are running on empty'
The letter paints a picture of a workforce emotionally exhausted and physically drained. Cabin crew reportedly cried in the galley between greeting passengers. Engineers, the writer claims, were multitasking across aircraft with barely any oversight or rest.
Even the way passengers were addressed underwent an internal shift, the letter claims. Employees were instructed to call passengers “customers” instead. The reason: “If you call them passengers, they’ll think they own the airline.” The employee argues that this mindset change reflected a deeper detachment from those who actually trust IndiGo with their lives. ### IndiGo Employee's Viral Open Letter Ignites Fury Over Low Pay, Overwork, and Toxic Culture
On December 7, 2025, an anonymous open letter purportedly from a long-time IndiGo employee—believed to be a pilot—exploded across social media, painting a damning picture of the airline's internal rot amid its ongoing operational meltdown. Addressed to "fellow citizens and IndiGo's top management," the letter accuses leadership of fostering greed, arrogance, and a "too big to fail" mentality, while frontline staff endure exploitative conditions. It has garnered thousands of shares, amplifying passenger frustrations over recent delays and cancellations.
#### The Letter's Explosive Allegations
The writer contrasts IndiGo's humble 2006 beginnings, when "teams felt proud of what they were building," with its evolution into a "corporate monopoly" driven by unchecked expansion and profits exceeding ₹5,000 crore annually. Key grievances include:
- **Exploitative Workloads and Meager Pay**: Ground staff, earning just ₹16,000-₹18,000 monthly, are "stretched to extreme limits—running rapidly across aircraft, juggling multiple tasks, and performing the work of 'three people.'" Cabin crew reportedly "cried in the galley between greeting passengers," while engineers multitasked across planes with "barely any oversight or rest."
- **Toxic Hierarchy and Intimidation**: Promotions allegedly favored unqualified insiders—"individuals who couldn’t even draft a proper email"—for ESOP perks and influence, sidelining talent. Pilots raising safety flags on fatigue and unsafe duty times faced "shouting, intimidation, or humiliation" from head office seniors. "No consequences. No accountability. Just fear," the letter laments.
- **Safety and Regulatory Lapses**: Concerns over pilot fatigue were ignored, with duty extensions allegedly flouting rules. Licence validations for pilots eyeing overseas moves were "deliberately delayed," amid rumors of "unofficial prices" for expedites. The author blasts a shift in mindset: Employees were told to call passengers "customers" to avoid them feeling entitled, underscoring detachment from service.
- **Leadership Critique**: CEO Pieter Elbers and a "70-year-old playboy" (implied to be founder Rakesh Gangwal) are singled out for greed and refusal to retire, embodying a culture where "growth turned into greed." The letter demands public accountability: "We have been broken for years... We watched the system crack while leadership flew in and out of Europe as we prayed for one extra hour of rest."
The crisis, per the writer, wasn't sudden but "years in the making"—a "slow but steady collapse" from ignored warnings, no unions, and systemic stress now manifesting in flight disruptions.
#### Backdrop: IndiGo's Operational Meltdown
IndiGo, India's largest carrier with over 60% market share, has faced severe scrutiny since late November 2025. Widespread delays, cancellations, and a DGCA show-cause notice for safety violations (including fatigue-related risks) stemmed from crew shortages, overexpansion, and monsoon-induced supply chain woes. CEO Elbers admitted "operational failures" in a staff memo on December 4, vowing to restore punctuality as the "immediate goal." Yet, the letter claims this is mere damage control, with profits prioritized over welfare.
#### Social Media Storm and Public Backlash
The letter has fueled outrage on X, with users decrying corporate exploitation and calling for probes. Highlights include:
- Business Today shared the story, sparking 1,300+ views.
- Apex Intel highlighted pilot fatigue and ₹18k salaries amid ₹5,000 Cr profits, urging a full DGCA investigation.
- Susmit AS labeled it a "shocking open letter" on greed and overwork, tagging experts for attention.
- India Today posted excerpts, emphasizing the shift from pride to arrogance, amassing 6,600+ views.
Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai echoed anti-competitive concerns, accusing IndiGo of predatory overcapacity to crush rivals like Jet and Akasa. Passengers, too, vented: One viral video showed a woman leaping over a counter amid ticket chaos, citing no food or updates during delays.
IndiGo has yet to respond publicly to the letter, but the DGCA's ongoing audit could escalate if corroborated. This exposé underscores broader aviation woes in India—talent drain, labor crunch, and safety trade-offs for growth—potentially reshaping scrutiny on the sector's dominant player. For the full letter, check circulating X threads or news outlets.
