Former AirAsia CEO Misses Chennai Conference After IndiGo Flight Takes Off Without Him
In a social media uproar, former AirAsia CEO Vijay Gopalan has publicly criticized IndiGo for what he describes as "unbelievably arrogant" behavior, after a flight he was booked on departed without him from Tiruchirappalli International Airport. Gopalan claims that boarding was never announced, and airport display boards inaccurately showed the flight status as security, leading to the incident.
Gopalan's Account of Events
In a series of Instagram videos, Gopalan detailed his experience. He was scheduled to fly from Tiruchirappalli to Chennai at 2:55 PM, having completed web check-in and arrived at the airport around 1:00 PM. He then proceeded to a lounge nearby to work, stating it was only a 2-3 minute walk from the boarding gate.
According to Gopalan, the flight's departure time was repeatedly delayed, with updates on display boards showing 3:10 PM, then 3:15 PM, and eventually 3:25 PM. He emphasized that the board consistently indicated "security" status, with no boarding announcements made. "I was looking at the board, it still said security. They hadn't announced the boarding and therefore, why would I go and wait at the gate?" he questioned in his videos.
At approximately 3:05 PM, Gopalan received a call from airline staff inquiring about his whereabouts. Upon checking the board again and seeing it still listed as security, he rushed to the gate, only to be informed that final boarding announcements had already been made, and the flight had left without him. He alleged that ground staff were rude, with one member reportedly saying, "Just because you wanted to eat good food, you cannot delay our flight, so we left it without you."
Allegations of Miscommunication and Deflection
Gopalan further claimed that airline representatives later argued that frequent flyers should know gates close 25 minutes before departure. He rejected this, pointing out the constant time changes and inaccurate board updates. "I don't even know when the departure is going to happen... you moved the flight from 2:55 to 3:10, 3:15, 3:25," he stated, maintaining that the display board misled him into believing further delays.
He also reported being asked to pay a rebooking fee, initially quoted at Rs 3,000 and later reduced to Rs 1,800 after airport manager intervention. Along with a colleague and another passenger who had also been waiting in the lounge, Gopalan was eventually accommodated on a later flight, but this caused him to miss a conference in Chennai.
In his videos, Gopalan expressed disappointment rather than anger, writing, "There was ZERO intent to listen to my side of the story and more importantly, deflect the blame to me when they knew they were at fault." He added, "If this is not arrogance what is?"
IndiGo's Response
Following the viral spread of the videos, IndiGo issued a response addressing the situation. The airline stated, "We truly understand how concerning it can be to miss a flight, and the inconvenience this may have caused you. As checked, an interim issue impacted the Flight Information Display System, the management of which falls within the purview of the airport operator."
IndiGo further explained, "Meanwhile, our team proceeded in accordance with the standard boarding protocol and made the requisite final boarding announcement." The airline highlighted that Gopalan failed to reach the gate in time but noted that their airport team assisted him with an alternate flight to continue his journey. They concluded, "We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you onboard again for a smoother and more pleasant experience."
This incident has sparked discussions on airline communication and passenger handling, with many following the developments on social media platforms.
