DOHA- India’s largest carrier, IndiGo Airlines (6E) flight from Mumbai (BOM) to Doha (DOH), Qatar faced a significant delay on Sunday (September 15, 2024), leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the airport.
The flight, originally scheduled for a 3:55 AM departure, remained grounded until at least 9 AM, affecting hundreds of travelers.
IndiGo Flight Delayed by 5 Hours
Passengers reported being confined to the aircraft for five hours without the option to disembark due to completed immigration procedures. Eventually, citing technical issues with the plane, airline staff instructed passengers to exit the aircraft and wait in the airport’s holding area.
The airline’s spokesperson later issued an apology for the inconvenience, stating that affected customers were being provided hotel accommodations and rebooked for their final destinations.
The incident sparked chaos at the airport, with passengers alleging a lack of food, water, and communication from IndiGo officials. Contradicting these claims, IndiGo asserted that adequate arrangements were made for the passengers.
In a statement to ANI, an IndiGo spokesperson explained, “Flight 6E 1303 from Mumbai to Doha was delayed due to technical reasons. Our airport team promptly assisted affected customers, providing refreshments and necessary arrangements. Despite multiple departure attempts, the flight was ultimately canceled due to extended procedural delays.”
According to FlightRadar24 data, IndiGo Airlines flight 6E1303 is a daily flight between Mumbai and Doha. It departs in the early morning from Mumbai at 3:55 AM and arrives in Doha at 5:00 AM local time.
IndiGo has wet leased around six Boeing 737 MAX from Qatar Airways (QR), which it operates on India-Qatar Routes.
Passengers Dissatisfaction
Passengers stranded on IndiGo flight 6E1303 from Mumbai to Doha took to social media to voice their frustrations. The flight experienced significant delays due to technical issues, prompting travelers to seek assistance online.
One user posted on X at 7:16 AM, alerting IndiGo and the Airports Authority of India about the situation. The passenger wrote, “6E1303 Mumbai-Doha flight is stuck at Mumbai Airport for 4 hours due to technical problem. The immigration authority is not permitting to offload the passengers.”
IndiGo responded promptly to the social media complaint, expressing regret for the inconvenience. The airline requested the passenger’s contact information via direct message to establish communication and address the issue.
This incident follows another recent disruption in IndiGo’s operations. On Friday (Sep 13, 2024), the airline diverted a Mumbai to Phuket (HKT) flight to Penang (PEN), Malaysia, citing adverse weather conditions as the cause.
Similar Incident
Air India Express (IX) flight from Delhi (DEL) to Kochi (COK) experienced a severe 12-hour delay, disrupting travel plans for numerous passengers during the Onam weekend. The flight, originally scheduled for 8:55 p.m. Friday, departed at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, landing in Kochi at 11:58 a.m.
Malayali travelers returning home for Onam celebrations faced unexpected confinement at the airport terminal. Frustration mounted as passengers, including children and elders, initiated a protest against the prolonged wait.
Complaints emerged regarding Air India’s mismanagement of the situation. Passengers reported inadequate provision of accommodation and food during the extended delay, intensifying their discomfort and dissatisfaction.
Finally, after 12 hrs from its original departure time, the flight took off from Delhi at 9 AM IST and landed at Kochi at 11:58 AM IST Today (September 14, 2024).
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