Massive Delays Hit IndiGo Passengers at Pune Airport
Over 100 travelers aboard an IndiGo flight from Pune to Delhi found themselves stranded for approximately three hours on Tuesday morning due to an unexpected operational hurdle. The disruption occurred when one of the pilots reportedly refused to operate the aircraft, citing adherence to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations.
Flight Schedules Thrown into Chaos
The affected flight, IndiGo 6E-2285, was originally scheduled to depart from Pune at 8:40 AM. However, the aircraft only managed to take off at 11:40 AM after the lengthy delay, finally touching down in Delhi at 1:32 PM. This wasn't an isolated incident, as a second IndiGo service from Pune to Amritsar, flight 6E-721, experienced similar disruptions on the same day.
The Amritsar-bound flight, which should have taken off at 2:55 AM, instead departed at 6:45 AM and reached its destination at 8:40 AM instead of the scheduled 5:15 AM arrival time. The cascading effect of these delays left numerous passengers facing potential missed connections and mounting frustration.
Passenger Outcry and Conflicting Explanations
Angry travelers took to social media platforms to voice their complaints about the inadequate communication from airline staff. One passenger directly called out the airline on X, stating: "Unnecessarily delay of flight 6E-2285 to Delhi without any information this very bad behaviour of airport is not tolerable."
Another flyer escalated the matter by tagging Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and the Airport Authority of India. The passenger alleged that the flight experiences regular three-hour delays due to Air Force permissions required between 9 AM and 11 AM, creating persistent scheduling problems.
IndiGo's customer service representatives provided conflicting information, initially attributing the delay to "operational issues of ATC." They emphasized that affected passengers received meals and snacks during the waiting period. However, an anonymous official later confirmed that the delay resulted from a combination of airspace congestion and FDTL restrictions.
New Safety Regulations and Passenger Concerns
The recent implementation of revised FDTL norms by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) from November 1 has brought pilot duty hours into sharper focus. These regulations aim to minimize pilot fatigue and enhance overall flight safety standards.
However, passengers and aviation observers argue that airlines bear the responsibility for adequate crew planning and ensuring timely departures, particularly under the new regulatory framework. The incidents have sparked discussions about whether carriers need to adjust their scheduling practices to accommodate safety regulations while minimizing passenger inconvenience.
As the aviation industry adapts to these updated safety norms, travelers continue to emphasize the importance of transparent communication during operational disruptions. The contrasting explanations provided to passengers during Tuesday's delays highlight the ongoing challenges in managing customer expectations during unforeseen circumstances.
