- By Nidhi Giri
- Sun, 15 Sep 2024 10:42 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Mumbai-Doha IndiGo flight was recently delayed with passengers alleging that they waited inside the aircraft for nearly five hours. The flyers alleged they were eventually asked to deboard the plane, which was scheduled to take off at 3:55 am, adding that they were taken to the immigration waiting area at the Mumbai airport due to some "technical issue" with the aircraft. About 250 to 300 passengers were reportedly stranded at the airport. In response to the complaints raised by scores of angry passengers, IndiGo gave a statement on Sunday, informing that IndiGo flight 6E 1303 operating from Mumbai to Doha had been cancelled and arrangements were being made for flyers in this regard.
“IndiGo flight 6E 1303 operating from Mumbai to Doha was delayed due to a technical reason. Our airport team immediately provided assistance to the affected customers and provided refreshments and necessary arrangements. The aircraft tried to depart for its destination a couple of times but had to finally be called off due to the extended time lag on account of various procedural delays. The customers are being provided hotels and are being rebooked as per their final destination. IndiGo sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused to its customers,” said an Indigo Spokesperson, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"We were not allowed to deboard the plane because immigration was over," said a passenger, who was flying with his wife and a child, as quoted by an NDTV report. "They allowed us to wait in a holding area after we fought with them. No official is talking to us," he alleged.
Another flyer said that they were not given any water or food. "It is a chaos over here. People are worried as their jobs are at risk. Passengers are waiting with their children," he said.
Delhi-Varanasi Flight News
Recently, IndiGo Airlines issued an apology following complaints from passengers about discomfort on its Delhi-Varanasi flight due to an alleged air conditioning issue. The incident occurred on September 5 and a video showing chaotic scenes inside flight 6E 2235 went viral, revealing passengers struggling in intense heat.
Several passengers reportedly fainted from the heat and suffocation, while others were seen using magazines to fan themselves. In response to the outcry, IndiGo stated that its cabin crew provided immediate assistance to those affected.
Despite the complaints, sources within IndiGo told news agency ANI that there was no malfunction with the air conditioning system. They explained that while the AC was functioning normally, a shift in temperature caused the cabin to heat up, leading to passenger panic.
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In a statement, IndiGo clarified that the cabin temperature had been adjusted based on passenger requests, which contributed to the discomfort. The airline reassured the public that its crew acted promptly to help those in need during the situation.
This was not the first time IndiGo has faced criticism regarding cabin conditions. In June, passengers on a Delhi-Bagdogra flight reported similar issues when the AC reportedly stopped working for nearly an hour. Older passengers on that flight experienced breathing difficulties, leading to a feeling of panic. IndiGo explained that the delay was due to high ground temperatures affecting operations.