Flights delayed, 500 SpiceJet passengers stranded at IGI airport

Around 500 passengers of the budget carrier SpiceJet had to face hardship at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi on Friday after three of its flights were delayed due to non-availability of planes, which were apparently stuck at other airports because of bad weather and a medical emergency.

Around 500 passengers of the budget carrier SpiceJet had to face hardship at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi on Friday after three of its flights were delayed due to non-availability of planes, which were apparently stuck at other airports because of bad weather and a medical emergency.

Passengers-queue-at-a-Spicejet-ticket-counter-at-Netaji-Subhash-Chandra-Bose-Airport-in-Kolkata-AFP-file-photo

Of the three flights which were delayed, two were bound for Mumbai and one for Bengaluru, sources said.

Angry over the inordinate delay, two passengers allegedly scuffled with the airline staff, they said.

"One of the aircraft was held at Bagdogra due to bad weather in Kolkata and the other was delayed at Madurai due a medical emergency on board. So the combined effect was long delays," the airline said while acknowledging the inordinate delay.

"We do not delay flights on purpose, we do everything in our power to accommodate impacted passengers and make amends. But assaults on staff can never be tolerated. They are doing their jobs," airline chief operating officer Sanjiv Kapoor said.

Two passengers who allegedly assaulted airline staff were denied boarding and the airline was exploring other potential action, sources said.