Passengers bound for Mumbai from Mangaluru faced a harrowing night at the airport after their IndiGo flight was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled. The disruption, attributed to flight crew duty time restrictions, left over a hundred travellers, including elderly and ailing individuals, stranded without clear communication.
Chaotic Night of Delays and Cancellation
The ordeal began for passengers of IndiGo flight 6E 5150, scheduled to depart from Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) at 9:25 PM on Tuesday. According to affected travellers, they first received a message informing them of a delay, pushing the departure to 11:40 PM. Many, including families with elderly members, proceeded to the airport based on this update.
However, the situation worsened. The flight was further rescheduled to midnight, and then around 3 AM, passengers were notified of a complete cancellation. "The flight was full, and the last-minute communication left my family members and others in mental and physical agony as they had to stay at the airport for the entire night," a family member complained. They highlighted that while food was provided, the lack of proper communication from airline staff added to the confusion and distress.
Airline Cites FDTL, Offers Alternatives
An IndiGo executive at the airport confirmed the cancellation was due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) – safety regulations governing crew working hours to prevent fatigue. The executive stated that after the cancellation, all passengers were informed of alternative arrangements, including hotel stays. While some accepted, approximately 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, where the airline provided food and facilities.
Due to passenger unrest, a new aircraft was arranged. It arrived at MIA on Wednesday morning but faced further delays due to the same FDTL constraints. The flight finally departed for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Some affected passengers opted for refunds or rescheduling, while others boarded the delayed flight.
IndiGo Addresses Wider Network Issues
An IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged the incident as part of broader operational challenges. "We have had several unavoidable flight delays and some cancellations in the past few days due to various reasons, including technology issues, airport congestion, and operational requirements," the spokesperson said. They added that teams are working to normalise operations and are offering alternate flights or refunds to impacted customers.
This incident underscores the cascading effect of crew scheduling issues on airline networks and the critical importance of clear passenger communication during disruptions. The Flight Duty Time Limitations, while essential for aviation safety, can lead to significant travel inconveniences when not managed with adequate buffer and contingency planning.
