Ahmedabad Airport Hit by IndiGo Flight Disruptions
Travelers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad experienced significant disruptions on Saturday as five IndiGo flights were delayed. The cause was a precautionary software upgrade being carried out on the airline's Airbus A320 fleet, a critical safety measure initiated following a global advisory.
Cause of the Delays and Affected Flights
The decision to ground planes for updates came after Airbus and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a worldwide advisory. The warning highlighted that intense solar radiation could potentially corrupt vital flight-control data in A320 family aircraft, necessitating immediate software or hardware updates.
This led to a cascade of delays in Ahmedabad, primarily due to aircraft rotation issues. Key affected services included:
- Flight 6E 75 to Jeddah and Flight 6E 261 to Raipur: Both were held up as their operating aircraft were arriving late from Chennai on flight 6E 6374.
- Flight 6E 6594 to Hyderabad: This departure was behind schedule because the joining crew was connecting from the same delayed Chennai service.
- Flight 6E 6013 to Bhubaneswar: Similarly impacted by the late arrival of its operating aircraft.
Sources indicated that more flights were expected to face rotational delays throughout the day.
Nationwide Impact and IndiGo's Response
The issue extends far beyond a single airport. Across India, approximately 330 A320 aircraft from various carriers, including Air India and Air India Express, require these updates. This has resulted in temporary groundings and operational disruptions on a national scale.
IndiGo, which operates about 200 of the affected planes, has been proactive in its response. The airline informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that it had completed updates on 143 aircraft as of 10 am on Saturday. The remaining planes are scheduled to be upgraded by 5:30 pm on November 30.
In an official statement, the airline emphasized that safety remains our highest priority. They confirmed they are working closely with Airbus to expedite the process while minimizing passenger inconvenience. IndiGo has advised all travelers to check their flight status on the airline's official app or website before heading to the airport.
