GUWAHATI: Passengers aboard a Delhi-bound IndiGo flight from Guwahati on Wednesday morning, May 20, were subjected to severe discomfort after being kept inside the aircraft for over two hours without proper air conditioning during a prolonged takeoff delay.
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According to information available on the IndiGo website, flight 6E 6304, which was originally scheduled to depart at 6:20 AM today, did finally took off at 8:57 AM.
Passengers alleged that they were kept entirely in the dark regarding the reason for the delay.
"We were kept sitting inside the aircraft for more than two hours without proper air conditioning, causing severe discomfort, suffocation, irritation, and harassment to passengers, including senior citizens, women, and children," Hemant Kumar Sethi Jain, one of the passengers who was travelling with his wife, told GPlus.
"Despite repeated requests and arguments with the IndiGo flight crew, no proper response or immediate action was taken initially,” Jain added.
Frustrated travellers noted that it was only after persistent complaints and some verbal exchanges that airline staff finally opened the aircraft gate. Following the opening of the doors, several passengers chose to deplane.
A passenger also alleged that many who deboarded the plane were not allowed to re-enter the aircraft later for takeoff. An IndiGo spokesperson refuted these allegations.
An IndiGo spokesperson, on condition of anonymity, told GPLus that the initial delay was caused due to some technical issue in Ground Power Unit (GPU), which was fixed soon.
As per civil aviation protocol, airlines are mandated to reinitiate the entire security and baggage process for all the passengers in case any among them de-plane the aircraft for any reason, the person said.