A routine early morning flight from Pune to Indore turned into a distressing experience for a Wanowrie-based family, exposing alarming maintenance lapses on an IndiGo aircraft. The incident, which occurred on January 10, involved unstable passenger seats where the cushions detached mid-flight, forcing airline staff to resort to a temporary adhesive fix.
Flight Turns Uncomfortable Over Seat Crisis
Pankaj Rungta, an investment firm owner, was travelling with his wife and son on IndiGo flight 6E-284 scheduled for a 5:15 AM departure. The family was heading to Indore due to a pressing emergency and had spent a significant sum of Rs 60,000 on airfares for themselves and other relatives. Their journey, however, was far from comfortable.
Soon after boarding, they discovered that the cushions on their assigned seats were unstable and kept coming off. Despite multiple complaints from the passengers, the issue persisted, highlighting a clear problem with the seat fittings. The situation was not isolated to just one seat, affecting the comfort and safety perception of multiple travellers in the group.
A Temporary "Glue" Fix Raises Eyebrows
After repeated grievances, an airline crew member attempted a makeshift solution that left the passengers further concerned. The staffer applied a glue-like substance underneath the loose cushions in an attempt to secure them for the remainder of the flight. This ad-hoc repair job, done in full view of passengers, underscored the lack of a proper onboard solution for such maintenance failures.
"The travel was not at all comfortable and exposed the poor maintenance of the aircraft," Rungta told TOI on Sunday, expressing his frustration over the ordeal. For a family dealing with an emergency, the added stress of faulty seats was the last thing they needed.
Airline's Response and Safety Assurance
Following Rungta's posts on social media platform X, IndiGo issued a formal explanation. The airline stated that their seats are designed with removable cushions secured by Velcro to facilitate easy cleaning and maintenance. They acknowledged that on rare occasions, these cushions may come loose and require repositioning for passenger comfort.
In their reply, the carrier emphasized, "Safety is paramount for us, and we assure you that the overall seat design ensures no compromise is made with safety requirements." The response aimed to distinguish between a comfort issue and a safety hazard, assuring passengers that the seat's fundamental integrity was not compromised.
However, the incident has sparked a debate among flyers about the line between routine wear-and-tear and negligent upkeep, especially when a quick fix involves adhesive on a commercial flight. Passengers are now questioning the checks these aircraft undergo before being cleared for operation.
