A wave of flight cancellations by budget carrier IndiGo has plunged major Indian airports into chaos, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated. At the heart of this disruption, a deeply distressing incident at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has captured the nation's attention, symbolizing the human cost of the operational meltdown.
A Father's Desperate Plea Goes Viral
The crisis took a painfully personal turn when a video of an anguished father pleading for help at an IndiGo help desk went viral on social media. The clip, reportedly shot on December 5, 2025, shows the man, visibly overwhelmed, repeatedly asking airline staff for a sanitary pad for his daughter. He explains that she was bleeding and needed immediate support, his shouts echoing the broader desperation in the terminal.
"Sister, my daughter needs sanitary pads… She is bleeding. Flights are not running on time," he is heard saying in the video. The footage, shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), sparked intense debate. While many netizens expressed sympathy, noting the lack of basic necessities, others questioned why he didn't approach nearby women or find a medical store instead of confronting the staff.
The Root of the Chaos: Crew Shortages and New Norms
The massive service breakdown has been directly linked to acute crew shortages. This shortage was triggered by the recent introduction of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms aimed at enhancing pilot rest periods and safety. The new rules created scheduling conflicts, leaving IndiGo unable to man its full roster of flights.
In response to the escalating crisis, the government intervened. Portions of the new FDTL order have been put on hold, and authorities have launched a high-level probe. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also withdrew its instruction that barred airlines from substituting weekly rest with leave, citing the urgent need to restore "continuity and stability of operations."
Apologies, Cancellations, and Sky-High Fares
Following the nationwide disruption, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers issued a public apology. He stated that the airline expects to fully stabilize its operations between December 10 and 15, 2025. He added that fewer than 1,000 flights were scheduled to be cancelled on Saturday, December 6. Until Friday midnight, IndiGo's operations at major hubs like Delhi, Chennai, and across Jammu and Kashmir remained suspended.
While Delhi airport authorities indicated services were slowly returning to normal, the fallout for passengers has been severe. Thousands remain stranded with patchy flight information. The reduced capacity caused airfares to skyrocket. On Friday, a last-minute Mumbai-Delhi flight was listed at a staggering Rs 51,860, while the lone Delhi-Mumbai option was priced at Rs 48,972.
The viral video of the distressed father is more than just an isolated incident; it is a stark snapshot of a systemic failure. It underscores how operational mismanagement and regulatory changes can collide, resulting in a travel nightmare where even the most basic human needs are overlooked in the ensuing chaos.
