Travel plans for hundreds of passengers descended into chaos on Thursday as a significant disruption in IndiGo's operations led to widespread flight cancellations and lengthy delays affecting Goa's two airports. The airline's domestic and international schedules were thrown into disarray, leaving fliers frustrated and stranded for hours.
Widespread Cancellations and Lengthy Delays
At least 14 IndiGo flights were cancelled, with over 25 flights arriving at or departing from Goa's Dabolim and Manohar International (Mopa) airports delayed by more than three hours. The repeated rescheduling of flights, coupled with what passengers described as vague communication from the airline, upended travel itineraries and tested the patience of both residents and tourists.
The impact was felt across a network of key routes. IndiGo's services to and from major cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Surat, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Indore were affected. The disruption created scenes of confusion and anxiety at the terminals.
Football Team and Passengers Stranded
Among the most notable groups caught in the turmoil was the Mumbai City FC football team. The former Indian Super League (ISL) champions faced a massive logistical hurdle ahead of their Super Cup semi-final match against FC Goa on Thursday. The team had an afternoon flight to Goa scheduled for Wednesday, but nationwide cancellations meant they only boarded past midnight.
"After nearly 10 hours at the airport, endless queues, and enough chaos to test anyone’s match day patience, the boys stuck together, kept the spirits high, and finally arrived for the semi-final," the club stated in a social media post. They landed in Goa only on the morning of their crucial match.
Passenger Anger and Allegations of Poor Service
The terminals were filled with tired and irate passengers. Architect Benson Furtado, traveling from Mumbai to Goa on flight 6E 6057, described the atmosphere as "like purgatory here. People just waiting for news with sad looks on their faces." He witnessed passengers yelling and hurling abuses at ground staff during a short delay.
Many travelers accused the airline of a deliberate strategy to avoid providing mandated care. "IndiGo cancels flights after multiple rescheduling. They postpone the flight in stages as they don’t have to provide accommodation, refunds, and food vouchers to passengers," said an angry female passenger returning home from Dabolim airport.
The frustration extended to other diverted flights. Naveen, a passenger on IndiGo flight 6E746 from Guwahati to Pune, reported a terrible experience with no accountability. "No support to the passengers and no food after almost 13 hours of this drama," he said, after his flight landed unexpectedly at Manohar International Airport without explanation.
Smrutiranjan Sahoo's story highlighted the personal cost of the disruption. Stranded at Mopa airport with no clear information, he said, "I have been at the Mopa airport with no idea whether IndiGo will fly or not... I booked a flight to attend a personal function tonight in Bhubaneswar, don’t know why I’ll go now." He lamented the lack of communication from both the airline and airport staff.
The incident underscores the severe impact of airline operational failures on passengers, affecting not only leisure and business travel but also critical commitments like professional sports and personal events. The widespread delays and cancellations at Goa's airports have raised serious questions about communication protocols and passenger compensation during large-scale disruptions.
