Key Highlights:
- Ayodhya-Delhi IndiGo flight diverted to Chandigarh due to weather.
- Passenger alleges low fuel, late diversion caused panic, possible SOP breach.
- Investigation sought by passenger, pilot; IndiGo silent on the incident.
A glimpse into a potentially dangerous incident involving an IndiGo flight traveling from Ayodhya to Delhi. The passenger narrative paints a picture of a harrowing experience where the plane, forced to divert due to bad weather, allegedly landed in Chandigarh with very little fuel remaining. This has sparked safety concerns, with both passengers and a retired pilot questioning whether IndiGo adhered to established safety protocols.
The passenger, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satish Kumar, shared his experience on social media. According to his account, the flight (6E2702) was scheduled to land in Delhi at 4:30 PM but encountered bad weather upon arrival. The pilot attempted two landings in Delhi, both unsuccessful, before informing passengers at 4:15 PM that they had 45 minutes of holding fuel.
Had a harrowing experience yesterday with @IndiGo6E Flight No. 6E2702 from Ayodhya to Delhi. Scheduled departure time 3:25 p.m. and schedule arrival time 4:30 p.m.
Around 4:15 p.m. the pilot announced that there’s bad weather at @DelhiAirport. and assured that the plane has 45…— Satish Kumar (@CopSatish499) April 14, 2024
Kumar alleges a significant delay ensued, with the decision to divert to Chandigarh only being made at 5:30 PM, 75 minutes after the initial fuel announcement. This delay, coupled with the landing attempts, reportedly caused panic among passengers and some crew members.
The plane finally landed in Chandigarh at 6:10 PM, exceeding the 45-minute holding fuel timeframe. Passengers claim to have learned from crew members that the landing occurred with only 1-2 minutes of fuel remaining.
Kumar, along with a retired pilot named Shakti Lumba, have expressed concerns about potential violations of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by IndiGo. Lumba, in particular, called the incident a “gross safety violation” and demanded an investigation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
While social media users have pointed out discrepancies between passenger accounts and Flightradar data regarding the number of missed approaches, the situation highlights the importance of passenger safety. As of now, IndiGo hasn’t issued a statement regarding the alleged incident.
