Two Passengers Removed from IndiGo Flight After Misbehaving During Nine-Hour Delay to Thailand
Two passengers were deboarded and handed over to security authorities after misbehaving on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Krabi, Thailand, which was delayed by nine hours on Wednesday. The delay was caused by the late arrival of the incoming aircraft, air traffic congestion, and the operating crew exceeding their flight duty time limits (FDTL).
Videos shared on X showed passengers yelling at and abusing the cabin crew, with one male passenger reportedly kicking the cockpit door. Passengers also demanded that the pilot come out of the cockpit and criticized the airline for failing to provide timely updates about the departure.
A Mumbai airport official explained that the flight was initially delayed due to the incoming aircraft arriving late from West Asia. Once it landed, the crew had exceeded their FDTL, causing further delays. Additional hold-ups occurred due to air traffic congestion before the flight eventually departed at 1 pm instead of the scheduled 4:05 am.
IndiGo confirmed the delay and stated that the two passengers “behaved inappropriately during the wait and were declared unruly.” They were deboarded in accordance with protocol, which contributed to additional delays. The airline also noted that meals and refreshments were provided to passengers multiple times, and its airport staff remained available to assist travelers.
The airline added that it is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all passengers and regretted the inconvenience caused. IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, has faced operational challenges recently, leaving it short-staffed after new FDTL rules came into effect on November 1.
