BENGALURU: Severe disruptions in IndiGo Airlines services due to technical issues and a shortage of pilots have left thousands of passengers stranded at Kempegowda International Airport, authorities said on Friday. The chaos has disrupted travel for weddings, funerals, religious pilgrimages, and urgent commitments, leaving passengers frustrated over lack of clarity and poor on-ground support.
Bride and groom attend own reception online
In a particularly unusual incident, a bride and groom travelling from Bhubaneswar to Hubballi were unable to attend their wedding reception after their IndiGo flight was abruptly cancelled. With no alternative travel options, the couple joined the ceremony virtually, while the bride’s parents occupied the seats reserved for the newlyweds and received greetings from guests.
The reception of Medha Kshir Sagar and Sangam Das was held on Wednesday at the Gujarat Bhavan in Hubballi. Apologising to relatives, the bride said she had no choice after the unexpected flight cancellation. Speaking to the media, her father said:
“Our daughter was supposed to arrive from Bhubaneswar on December 2. With all arrangements in place and 700 guests invited, we had to conduct an online reception. About 650 people attended, and as advised by relatives, we sat on the bride and groom’s chairs.”
He added that the tickets had been booked two months in advance and expressed confusion over the airline’s abrupt cancellation.
Passengers face widespread travel disruptions
The IndiGo disruptions affected multiple travellers with urgent commitments. A family heading to Indore for a wedding was stranded in Bengaluru, along with a bridegroom whose luggage was routed to another flight and not returned.
Another passenger travelling for a funeral said his family was pleading for clarity on whether to proceed without him. A foreign passenger arriving from Singapore for a connecting flight to Goa described the experience as a “nightmare,” with her luggage unreturned and no onward flights available.
A group of pilgrims from Hyderabad travelling to Sabarimala via Kochi were also stranded. They complained about the lack of basic amenities such as drinking water and shower facilities, saying the delay forced them to break mandatory rituals while waiting indefinitely.
IndiGo confirms cancellations and issues advisory
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, IndiGo confirmed that 52 arriving flights and 50 departing flights had been cancelled from Bengaluru Airport. A passenger advisory later stated:
“Passengers are requested to note that IndiGo flights from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru to Mumbai and Delhi stand cancelled until 23:59 hours on December 5. For flights to other destinations, we recommend verifying the latest flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.”
The advisory added:
“Our on-ground teams are actively coordinating with IndiGo and all operational partners to minimise inconvenience and support passengers through this disruption. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.”
Conclusion
The ongoing flight disruptions at Bengaluru airport have caused widespread inconvenience, highlighting challenges in airline operations amid technical issues and staff shortages. Passengers are urged to verify flight status before travelling and remain patient as IndiGo works to restore normal operations.