The 6E 2175 Delhi-Goa IndiGo flight witnessed chaos leading to an assault on the co-pilot, Sahil Katariya, after facing extensive delays. Sanal Vij, a co-passenger, shared a detailed account questioning IndiGo’s handling of the event. Scheduled for a 7:40 am departure, the aircraft took off at 5:35 pm. Boarding began after a 5-hour delay, but doors remained open until 2:50 pm, amidst misinformation about traffic control clearances and waiting for an additional crew member, who arrived at approximately 2:40 pm. Elderly passengers’ requests for water, while stuck on the grounded aircraft, were allegedly ignored by the crew, who were reportedly occupied with extended discussions with the ground staff.
The tension escalated when the co-pilot attempted to explain the delays to passengers at 3:20 pm, resulting in Katariya striking the co-pilot. Following the incident, which was captured on digital media, Katariya was apprehended. An independent internal committee will determine whether to place Katariya on a no-fly list. IndiGo’s official statement emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards unacceptable behavior. This incident raises broader issues about the treatment of passengers during prolonged delays, particularly in light of fog-induced disruptions across north India and new guidelines mandating cancellation of flights delayed beyond three hours.
In the context of such aviation challenges, Radhika Apte’s predicament at Mumbai airport, where passengers were confined within an aerobridge, also drew attention to the discomforts of air travel, highlighting a need for reconsideration of security protocols to accommodate passenger welfare during delays.