IndiGo passengers face harrowing time as flight lands with minimal fuel
PTC Web Desk: An IndiGo flight from Ayodhya to Delhi experienced a concerning situation when it was forced to divert to Chandigarh due to bad weather conditions in Delhi. The flight landed with only a minimal amount of fuel left, according to one of the passengers, raising questions about safety protocols.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satish Kumar shared his account of the incident on social media, stating that the flight was supposed to depart from Ayodhya at 3:25 pm and arrive in Delhi at 4:30 pm. However, the flight was delayed due to poor weather conditions in Delhi, and the plane circled the city while attempting to land. Despite two failed landing attempts, the pilot eventually decided to divert the flight to Chandigarh.
Kumar reported that the pilot initially informed passengers at 4:15 pm that the flight had 45 minutes of fuel remaining for holding patterns. But after the unsuccessful landing attempts and prolonged decision-making on the course of action, the plane did not arrive in Chandigarh until 6:10 pm. Passengers reportedly experienced distress during this time, with some feeling nauseous.
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Concerns have been raised about IndiGo's adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during the incident. Retired pilot Shakti Lumba criticised the airline for its handling of the situation, asserting that after two missed approaches, a diversion should be mandatory. He deemed continuing to hold instead of diverting earlier and potentially running out of fuel a "gross safety violation."
Flight tracking data suggests there may have only been one missed approach and subsequent diversion, which counters the claims of two missed approaches. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation were tagged in Kumar's social media post, and an investigation has been called for by the parties concerned.
Meanwhile, IndiGo has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident and the allegations made against the airline's conduct.
- With inputs from agencies
