IndiGo Airlines has found itself in the midst of another controversy yet again, when renowned actor-comedian Kapil Sharma took to X to express frustration with the airline brand, on Wednesday, accusing them of extensive delays and inconvenience to passengers.
Sharma, 42, criticised the airline for making passengers wait inside a bus for an extended period without providing any explanation for the delay. According to his tweets, the initial delay lasted for 50 minutes, and by 9:20 pm, the pilot had not arrived due to being stuck in traffic.
“Dear @IndiGo6E, first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minz, and now your team is saying the pilot is stuck in traffic, what? Really? We were supposed to take off by 8 pm, and it’s 9:20, still, there is no pilot in the cockpit. Do you think these 180 passengers will fly in IndiGo again? Never,” Sharma wrote on Twitter.
In a subsequent tweet, Sharma posted a video showcasing passengers being deboarded, as the airline informed them about having to board another aircraft. However, they were then required to return to the terminal for an additional security check.
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In the video, the passengers can be seen engaging in a heated argument with the airline staff, demanding to speak with someone in authority. Sharma also highlighted the plight of elderly passengers, including those in wheelchairs, facing difficulties due to the prolonged delays.
“People are suffering because of you @IndiGo6E, lying, lying, and lying. There are some old passengers on wheelchairs, not in very good health condition. Shame on you,” Sharma tweeted.
Responding to Sharma’s complaints, IndiGo acknowledged the situation and attributed the delay to operational reasons at Chennai airport.
Dear @IndiGo6E first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minz, and now your team is saying pilot is stuck in traffic, what ? Really ? we supposed to take off by 8 pm n it’s 9:20, still there is no pilot in cockpit, do you think these 180 passengers will fly in indigo again ? Never…
— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) November 29, 2023
Australian cricketer David Warner responded to actor-comedian Kapil Sharma’s tweets, expressing his dismay over a similar situation faced by his friends.
This is a very sad situation and I had friends stuck in a similar manner. https://t.co/nBp0ZjIUir
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) November 30, 2023
Warner took to social media, stating, “This is a very sad situation, I had friends stuck in a similar manner.”
This is not the first time IndiGo has found itself in a controversy. Earlier, a passenger had lodged a complaint about an extremely uncomfortable hour-long flight during peak summer season in June, due to a technical problem with the air-conditioning being turned off.
IndiGo subsequently issued an apology for the inconvenience caused.