Viral Video: IndiGo Issues Clarification After Pilot Refuses to Operate Pune-Bengaluru Flight

An IndiGo flight from Pune to Bengaluru faced a dramatic five-hour delay on September 24, after the pilot refused to take off, citing that his duty hours had ended. This sparked a wave of frustration among passengers, which soon became the talk of social media when a video of the incident surfaced.

In the now-viral clip, passengers are seen confronting the IndiGo crew and the pilot, demanding an explanation for the delay. One passenger even urged the pilot to step out and clarify the situation, but the pilot responded by closing the cockpit door. The video captures the moment a woman exclaims, “So this is how they close the door because they have no answer.”

The video was shared by Ayush Kumar, who wrote, "IndiGo flight 6E from Pune to Bengaluru delayed for 5 hours after the pilot refused to take off due to his work hours ending. Passengers were left stranded with no refreshments, no compensation. Absolute disregard for customer service. How can this be allowed?"

As the video gained traction online, IndiGo issued a statement explaining that the delay was due to "operational reasons" linked to flight duty time limitations.

“Flight 6E 361 scheduled to operate from Pune to Bengaluru on September 24, 2024, was delayed due to operational reasons related to flight duty time limitations. Customers were kept informed about the delay and our team was available throughout the duration to assist customers. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” IndiGo said.

This incident isn't the only time IndiGo has made headlines recently. Earlier in the week, another viral video showed passengers shouting at ground staff, drawing criticism from viewers online.

IndiGo is currently under the spotlight, with social media users questioning its customer service approach in handling these delays and passenger experiences.