Delhi Airport News: IndiGo Delhi-Jaipur Flight Delayed as Pilot Stuck in Traffic
Delhi Airport News
More than 175 passengers on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Jaipur were left waiting inside the aircraft for nearly an hour on Friday night after one of the pilots could not reach Delhi airport on time. Heavy rain and waterlogging across the national capital reportedly caused major traffic problems on roads leading to the airport.
The flight, 6E 6131, was scheduled to leave Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) at 8:20 pm and reach Jaipur at 9:10 pm. However, according to FlightAware, the aircraft finally took off at around 9:09 pm.
The A321 aircraft had more than 175 passengers on board, including Rashtriya Loktantrik Party founder and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal.
Passengers had already boarded the aircraft and were waiting for departure when they were informed that the pilot had not yet reached the airport.
Beniwal, who frequently travels between Delhi and Jaipur, said he had left his home at around 6:05 pm because he expected heavy traffic due to the weather. He reportedly faced major traffic jams on the way to the airport. After passengers were seated, the aircraft remained at the airport without taking off. Beniwal said he asked the crew about the delay and was told that the pilot had not arrived.
Passengers reportedly waited for nearly an hour before another arrangement was made to operate the flight. According to Beniwal, another IndiGo flight arrived at Delhi airport and its pilot was then brought in to operate the delayed Jaipur flight.
The aircraft eventually departed at 9:09 pm, around 49 minutes after its scheduled departure time. Beniwal later raised questions about the delay and asked why the pilot had not left early enough to account for the severe traffic conditions caused by heavy rain.
He also questioned whether an airline would wait for an hour if a passenger arrived late and called for accountability from the Civil Aviation Ministry. An aviation source familiar with the incident confirmed that the pilot could not reach the airport on time because of slow-moving traffic.
IndiGo said that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes affect flight operations. According to the airline, the delay in this case was caused by significant traffic congestion on the city side after continuous rainfall disrupted movement across Delhi. The airline also said its team made regular announcements to keep passengers informed about the situation. The incident highlights how heavy rainfall can affect not only road traffic but also airport operations. Waterlogging and traffic congestion can make it difficult for passengers, airport staff and crew members to reach the airport on time.
Airlines generally expect cockpit crew members operating domestic flights to report for duty well before the scheduled departure time. This allows them to complete required procedures before passengers board and the aircraft leaves. For the passengers of IndiGo flight 6E 6131, the delay meant spending additional time inside the aircraft before departure. Although the flight eventually took off without any major incident, the episode has raised questions about how airlines and crew members can better manage severe weather and traffic disruptions during the monsoon season.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
