IndiGo Flight to Singapore Leaves Passengers Stranded for Hours in Chennai
In a distressing incident at Chennai International Airport, more than 200 passengers scheduled to fly to Singapore on an IndiGo aircraft were forced to endure an agonizing wait of approximately five hours while confined to the plane on Tuesday. The delay, which exceeded the actual flight duration to Singapore, sparked outrage among travelers, with a viral video capturing passengers shouting at airline staff in frustration and despair.
Technical Issues and Crew Constraints Cited as Causes
IndiGo, in its official response, attributed the prolonged delay to a combination of technical and operational challenges. The airline stated that the pilot observed an abnormal rise in cabin temperature and promptly notified the engineering team for inspection. Concurrently, the cockpit crew's duty hours approached the limit set by Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations before the technical issue could be resolved. "We had to arrange an alternate crew, which took time," the airline explained, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to safety protocols.
Passenger Accounts Highlight Suffocation and Poor Communication
However, passenger testimonies and social media posts painted a starkly different picture of the ordeal. In a one-minute video that circulated widely online, travelers were heard complaining of suffocating conditions as the air conditioning system intermittently switched on and off. Passengers alleged they were threatened with intervention by CISF personnel without receiving a clear explanation for the inordinate delay.
The Singapore-bound flight, identified as 6E1025, was scheduled to depart at 7:30 AM, with boarding commencing from 6:30 AM onwards. Despite early boarding, the aircraft failed to take off as planned. One passenger detailed the experience on social media, noting, "There was no clear explanation and no transparent communication. The cabin air conditioning repeatedly switched on and off. Infants, children, elderly passengers, and working professionals were onboard. Passengers who requested to deboard due to discomfort were not permitted to do so for a considerable period."
Crew Changes and Final Departure
According to accounts from those onboard, the original pilot left the aircraft midway through the delay, citing work-hour restrictions under FDTL rules. An alternate pilot reported for duty at 11 AM, and the flight eventually took off at 12 noon, nearly five hours after the scheduled departure time.
In contrast, sources from IndiGo maintained that passengers were kept informed about the situation through periodic updates and were provided with refreshments during the wait. The airline reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and regulatory compliance, though the incident has raised questions about communication and contingency planning in such scenarios.
This event underscores ongoing challenges in the aviation sector regarding passenger handling during unforeseen delays, particularly in situations involving technical faults and crew scheduling constraints.
