Stranded passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport | X/ @ajaymane2995
More than 100 passengers flying from Mumbai to Istanbul were stuck at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday for over 16 hours as their Istanbul-bound Indigo flight was cancelled. The flight was delayed after the airplane reported some technical issues but was ultimately cancelled, leaving passengers waiting from morning to evening.
On Saturday, Indigo’s Flight 6E17, scheduled to depart at 6:55 AM from Mumbai, was delayed for over 16 hours due to technical issues. As the 4.40-hour flight got delayed by four hours, passengers began complaining about the delay on social media, prompting Indigo to provide an alternate flight at 11:00 PM.
The Free Press Journal contacted Indigo to get their comment on the long delay but the airline did not provide any reply until the news went to press. However, the passengers were informed by the airline that the airplane has reported some technical issues, The alternate flight departing at 11pm from Mumbai Airport and was expected to land at Istanbul 5.40am on Sunday.
Frustrated passengers took to social media to complaint against the delay. A passenger Shubham Singh wrote on X, saying, “Stuck at Mumbai airport trying to board Indigo flight to Istanbul. Airline refusing to justify delay, making passengers sit for hours in aero-bridge only to turn them back and making them wait again. Zero clarity.”
Since flyers usually take connecting flights to Europe via Istanbul, some of the passengers also shared their worries about connecting flights from Istanbul. Atharva Pradhan, wrote on X, “Flight 6E17 has been delayed for over 4 hours now and no refreshments have been arranged so far. Pretty sure the connecting flight from Istanbul will be missed. Please provide an immediate solution for this.”
Another passenger Sachin Chintalwad, wrote, “Dear indigo this is not fair. Now it’s 5 hr delay for 6E17 from mumbai to Istanbul. I have connecting flight from Istanbul to IAD Washington and I’m going to miss that.”
Passengers also complained about the airline staff’s rude behaviour. On X, Sonam Saigal, said, “My brother has been stuck at the Mumbai International Airport for more than 12 hours due to extremely unprofessional behavior by Indigo and their staff. He had a flight to Istanbul which 1st got delayed, then he was made to board and de-board again twice. The staff is extremely rude and refuse to answer any questions about rescheduling and refund.“
Another passenger Jai Sandhu, wrote, “The most atrocious experience while trying to travel on Indigo flight to Istanbul from Bombay on the morning of 28th Dec 2024. The flight was scheduled for 6:55 am and was delayed until 1:30 pm covered with false lies, putting people through hell.”
