Imagine if more than one lakh passengers were stuck at airports because flights simply stopped operating. People had to pay ₹100 just for a bottle of water, and a father even had to beg for sanitary pads for his daughter. This is what happened when IndiGo Airlines’ operational system failed. In the last five days, over 2,000 flights were canceled. Some passengers were stranded at airports for more than 25 hours before they could go back home. Many shared videos showing the chaos and their helplessness.
People are angry and say that IndiGo has treated passengers like hostages. Many believe strict action should be taken, and some even say that a criminal case should be filed against the airline.
The government has now ordered IndiGo to refund tickets, but because the airline misused rules while claiming to help passengers, many feel stronger action is needed. Airfares shot up to shocking levels — Delhi to Jaipur tickets were selling for ₹90,000, and Delhi to Mumbai tickets for ₹70,000. If people have to pay 10 times the normal price to travel, then those who charge such high fares should also face action.
Airports across the country — from Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, Mumbai to Kolkata — were overcrowded. Thousands of people sat on the floor at Delhi airport, waiting for information that never came. IndiGo didn’t update passengers for 24 hours, causing even more frustration. In some places, fights broke out between passengers and airline staff over food, water, and basic needs.
Why did this crisis happen?
The DGCA introduced new rules for pilot and crew safety. These rules included:
-
Two days off after seven days of work
-
Fewer night landings
-
No more than two consecutive night shifts
-
At least 24 hours rest after long flights
-
Night shift officially ending at 6 AM instead of 5 AM
All airlines had to follow these rules. But because IndiGo is India’s largest airline — operating 2,300 flights a day and carrying 64% of domestic passengers — the impact was felt more strongly there. IndiGo did not have enough pilots and crew to follow the new rules and still keep flights running smoothly. They implemented the rules but failed to plan for the increased need for staff. This poor planning caused a nationwide disruption.The government has now given IndiGo a few days to fix the situation and has set up a four-member committee to investigate the airline’s negligence.
