A Pune-Bengaluru IndiGo flight, 6E 361, was delayed for 5 long hours after the pilot refused to take off, citing that his duty hours had ended. Originally scheduled for a 12:45 am departure, the flight didn’t take off until 5:44 am, leaving passengers frustrated and stranded at the airport. 🕰️
The Viral Video 🎥
A video showing agitated passengers demanding an explanation from the pilot went viral on social media. In the clip, the pilot is seen shutting the cockpit door after passengers called him out, adding fuel to the growing frustration. The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking a heated debate.
IndiGo flight 6E from Pune to Bengaluru delayed for 5 hours after the pilot refused to take off due to his work hours ending.Passengers were left stranded with no refreshments, no compensation.Absolute disregard for customer service. How can this be allowed? @IndiGo6E @DGCAIndia pic.twitter.com/WCDFtrqNwR
— Ayush Kumar (@ayushux) October 1, 2024
Social Media Reactions 🗣️
Reactions were divided. Some users empathized with the passengers, demanding compensation and questioning IndiGo’s customer service. A user named Ayush Kumar expressed his outrage on X, complaining about the lack of refreshments and compensation during the delay. Others, however, defended the pilot for sticking to safety regulations, insisting that IndiGo management should be held accountable for poor planning. ✋🛫
@MoCA_GoI indigo flight getting delayed by 3 hours at pune airport flight number 6E0 361 from pune to Bengaluru and no response kindly help on this immediately effect
— Lokesh M K (@mklokesh) September 23, 2024
IndiGo’s Response 💬
IndiGo eventually addressed the controversy on September 30, confirming that the delay was due to “operational reasons related to flight duty time limitations.” They apologized for the inconvenience and stated that their team was available to assist customers throughout the ordeal.
What’s Next? 🔮
While the passengers’ frustration is understandable, safety protocols like flight duty time limitations are non-negotiable for pilots. However, the lack of adequate customer service during the delay raises important questions about airlines’ responsibilities. Will IndiGo improve their customer care to prevent future incidents like this? Stay tuned for more updates!