For the second day in a row, Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport descended into chaos and tension on Saturday. The disruption was triggered by the sudden cancellation of seven IndiGo flights, which left hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated at the terminal.
Complete List of Cancelled Flights
According to an official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) stationed at the airport, the airline cited "operational reasons" for grounding the following flights scheduled for Saturday:
- 6E 6484/6799 (Pune-Ranchi-Bengaluru) - scheduled arrival: 8:25 AM
- 6E 5071/2294 (Delhi-Ranchi-Delhi) - scheduled arrival: 2:15 PM
- 6E 327/328 (Hyderabad-Ranchi-Hyderabad) - scheduled arrival: 5:25 PM
- 6E 221/6272 (Bengaluru-Ranchi-Pune) - scheduled arrival: 8:40 PM
- 6E 186/191 (Hyderabad-Ranchi-Hyderabad) - scheduled arrival: 7:20 PM
- 6E-6493/6184 (Ahmedabad-Ranchi-Ahmedabad) - scheduled arrival: 5:50 PM
- 6E-795/5017 (Mumbai-Ranchi-Mumbai) - scheduled arrival: 6:20 PM
The official also noted that IndiGo flight 6E 246 from Chennai arrived in Ranchi at 1:55 PM, significantly delayed from its original 11:50 AM schedule.
Passenger Fury and Security Concerns
The airport witnessed heated scenes as stranded fliers engaged in arguments with IndiGo staff. The core of the anger was the alleged lack of clear communication from the airline regarding the last-minute cancellations. Many passengers were left in the dark about refunds or rescheduled bookings, forced to wait indefinitely inside the terminal.
Anticipating potential unrest due to the cancellations, the airport authorities increased the number of security personnel deployed at the facility to manage the situation.
Migrant Workers' Plight and Broader Impact
Among the most affected were a group of migrant workers employed with a private company in Kuwait. They had traveled roughly 200 kilometers from Koderma to catch a 2:45 PM flight to Delhi, with a connecting flight to Kuwait at 9 PM. The cancellation caused them to miss their entire journey.
One of the workers, Md Amjad Khan, expressed their distress, stating they received no prior information about the cancellation. While they were given a rescheduled flight for December 9, he voiced uncertainty about whether that flight would operate normally.
Another worker, Md Bablu, highlighted the severe professional risk, saying, "We are under pressure from our employer to return to Kuwait at the earliest to join duty. Any further delay might jeopardise our jobs."
Another passenger, Rahul, whose flight to Bengaluru was cancelled, called for government intervention. "The govt must intervene into the matter to mitigate the inconvenience faced by passengers," he said.
The incident at Birsa Munda Airport underscores the significant disruption and personal hardship caused by sudden airline operational failures, leaving passengers to bear the brunt of uncertainty and financial risk.
