India, March 10 -- Rahul Bhatia has returned to lead the day-to-day operations of an airline that he co-founded nearly two decades ago, amid a turbulence that "should never have taken place".

"I step into my expanded role of managing the affairs of IndiGo with a deep sense of responsibility-not only to the company's customers and its shareholders, but to every employee who powers this airline," Bhatia wrote in an internal note to IndiGo employees after he took over as interim CEO of Interglobe Aviation Ltd. following the resignation of Pieter Elbers - effective immediately.

"What happened last December should never have taken place... Our customers didn't deserve it and nor did all of you, especially the frontline employees who bore mos...