CHENNAI- More than 200 passengers on IndiGo Airlines (6E) flight 6E 1025 from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) remained onboard for over four hours due to operational disruptions.
The delay on February 24 triggered visible frustration, with travellers questioning crew members as technical and regulatory issues unfolded before departure.
IndiGo Flight Delayed by 4 Hours
IndiGo flight 6E 1025 was scheduled to depart Chennai (MAA) at 7:20 am. The aircraft eventually took off at 11:39 am, resulting in a delay of approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes.
According to sources, the disruption began with an air conditioning malfunction. Chennai was experiencing high temperatures, and the aircraft’s cooling system was reportedly underperforming. Engineers were called to inspect and rectify the issue before departure clearance.
While the technical fault was resolved, a second constraint emerged involving Flight Duty Time Limitation regulations. FDTL norms restrict the number of hours pilots and cabin crew can operate to prevent fatigue and maintain safety standards.
Given the extended ground delay, operating the international Chennai to Singapore sector would have exceeded the permissible duty period for the original crew. To comply with FDTL requirements, IndiGo arranged a replacement crew, India Today reported.
Visa Formalities Added Further Delay
Because the service was an international flight to Singapore (SIN), replacing the crew required completion of visa documentation and regulatory clearances. These formalities extended the turnaround time.
Sources indicated that processing visa requirements for the replacement crew significantly contributed to the prolonged delay before pushback.
Why Passengers Were Not Deboarded
Passengers had already completed immigration procedures at Chennai International Airport (MAA). Reversing the process would have required coordinated re-entry protocols, fresh documentation, and additional immigration clearances.
Authorities determined that deboarding and restarting exit formalities could have created further delays. As a result, passengers remained seated inside the aircraft throughout the four hours.
Passenger Reaction Onboard
Videos circulating on social media showed passengers expressing dissatisfaction over the prolonged wait. Several travellers questioned airline staff regarding the lack of timely updates.
Some passengers described the onboard experience as uncomfortable and said communication regarding the technical issue and crew replacement lacked clarity. The frustration was amplified because the delay occurred inside the aircraft rather than at the departure gate.
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