Around 400 passengers traveling on IndiGo Airlines from Istanbul to New Delhi and Mumbai have faced a chaotic situation, being stranded at Istanbul Airport for over 24 hours without food or accommodation. The delays were attributed to “operational reasons,” but passengers reported a lack of communication and support from the airline.
Details Of The Incident
The ordeal began when IndiGo flight 6E 12, scheduled to depart at 8:15 PM on December 11, was first delayed to 11 PM and then rescheduled to 10 AM the following day. Another flight, 6E 18, faced similar delays. Passengers were left confused and frustrated as they received little information about the situation. Many reported that no IndiGo staff were present at the airport to assist them, leaving them reliant on updates from Turkish Airlines crew instead.
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Passenger Experiences
Social media became a platform for passengers to express their anger and disappointment. One traveler, Anushri Bhansali, shared her experience of being delayed multiple times before her flight was ultimately canceled without notice. She highlighted that there were no meal vouchers or accommodations provided, and some passengers were suffering from health issues due to the prolonged wait. Another passenger, Parshwa Mehta, criticized the airline for its lack of accountability and empathy during this crisis.
@IndiGo6E ,After months of saving to book a flight home to India, I’m now stranded in Istanbul, exhausted and sick, thanks to your delays and cancellations!
— Anushri Bhansali (@BhansaliAnushri) December 13, 2024
Delayed TWICE by an hour, CANCELLED with no notice RESCHEDULED 12 hrs later, NO DETAILS or final confirmation!
To make matters worse, NO ONE from Indigo was present at the gate to explain the situation. The news came from Turkish Airlines crew, and there was no formal announcement—just complete chaos
— Parshwa Mehta (@parshwa_1995) December 12, 2024
The conditions at the airport were reportedly uncomfortable, with many passengers enduring cold temperatures without adequate shelter or food. Some mentioned that they were granted access to a lounge, but it was far too small to accommodate all those stranded.
IndiGo’s Response
In response to the growing outrage, IndiGo issued an apology for the inconvenience caused but maintained that the delays were due to operational issues. The airline has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with many calling it a failure of basic customer service. Passengers expressed their frustration over the lack of communication and support from the airline during this distressing time.
Hey @IndiGo6E , your handling of flight 6E0018 from Istanbul to Mumbai on Dec 12 has been a disaster. Scheduled to depart at 8:15 PM, it was delayed to 11 PM on the same day. Fine, we waited. Then it was shockingly pushed to 10 AM the next day. What’s going on?
— Parshwa Mehta (@parshwa_1995) December 12, 2024
This incident has raised concerns about customer service standards in the airline industry, particularly regarding how airlines manage unexpected delays and communicate with their passengers.
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