IndiGo Passengers Endure Darkness and No AC on Delhi-Bound Flight Amid Intense Heatwave
IndiGo News
Passengers travelling on an IndiGo flight from Vadodara to Delhi faced a difficult and uncomfortable situation after a power disruption left the aircraft without lights and air conditioning for nearly 30 minutes during an intense heatwave.
The incident happened on IndiGo flight 6E 657 on Sunday evening, May 17, at Vadodara Airport. The flight was scheduled to depart for Delhi at 8:40 pm. According to reports, around 160 passengers had already boarded the aircraft when a technical problem caused the power supply to fail.
The issue reportedly occurred because of a malfunction in the Ground Power Unit (GPU), a system that provides electricity to aircraft while they are parked on the ground. Since the aircraft was depending on the GPU for electrical power before takeoff, the failure caused the cabin lights, ventilation system, and air conditioning to stop working.
Passengers said the cabin became extremely hot, dark, and uncomfortable as temperatures in Vadodara had reached around 43.6 degrees Celsius that day due to a severe heatwave.
Videos shared on social media showed passengers sitting inside the dark aircraft and using safety pamphlets to fan themselves in an attempt to cope with the heat. Several passengers described the experience as suffocating and stressful.
One social media user claimed that passengers remained trapped inside the aircraft for nearly 45 to 50 minutes without proper ventilation. Another passenger alleged that the crew did not initially allow passengers to deboard or open the aircraft doors during the disruption.
The incident quickly gained attention online after videos and posts about the situation went viral on social media platform X. Many users expressed concern about passenger comfort and questioned airline procedures during technical failures in extreme weather conditions.
According to airport officials, technical teams took approximately 12 to 15 minutes to identify and repair the fault. However, fully restoring power and restarting all onboard systems took nearly 30 minutes.
During this time, passengers reportedly remained seated inside the aircraft while the cabin stayed dark and without air conditioning. Officials said passengers were sweating heavily because of the extreme heat and lack of ventilation.
Data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed that the flight was delayed by more than one hour because of the incident. Although the flight was originally scheduled to depart at 8:40 pm, it finally took off around 10:00 pm.
Following the incident, IndiGo released an official statement explaining that the flight delay was caused by a technical snag. The airline stated that the issue was resolved quickly and the aircraft later continued its journey safely to Delhi.
The airline also said passengers were regularly informed during the delay and that staff members worked to reduce discomfort as much as possible. IndiGo expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding.
In its statement, the airline emphasized that the safety and comfort of passengers and crew remain its top priority.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges airlines face during technical disruptions, especially during extreme weather conditions. Experts say that while technical issues can happen occasionally, passenger communication and emergency comfort measures become extremely important during delays involving heat and ventilation problems.
The event also sparked discussion online about airport infrastructure, aircraft ground support systems, and airline handling of passenger comfort during operational disruptions. Many travelers said airlines should have better backup arrangements in place during high-temperature conditions to avoid such situations in the future.
