VASCO
A day after a series of cancellations disrupted operations at Dabolim Airport, the situation escalated on Friday as IndiGo cancelled 31 flights across major domestic sectors, leaving more than 3,000 passengers stranded and triggering tense scenes at the Dabolim Airport.
The cancellations, affecting key routes such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other important sectors, created severe travel disruptions from early morning and continued through the day.
Passengers arriving at the airport expecting regular departures were met with sudden cancellation notices, long queues and overflowing crowds at the IndiGo helpdesk.
As the airline struggled to manage or accommodate passengers on alternate flights, the mounting frustration resulted in heated arguments, emotional breakdowns and a visible sense of helplessness, especially among senior citizens and families with young children.
The IndiGo service counter witnessed a chaotic rush, with serpentine queues stretching across the airport area. Airport staff was seen repeatedly urging passengers to stay calm, but the tension only grew as more flights were added to the cancellation list.
With space rapidly filling up with the swelling crowd, authorities requested police assistance to prevent any untoward incident, prompting deployment of police personnel and additional CISF near the terminal to ensure the situation remained under control.
Officers were seen pacifying agitated groups and guiding stranded travellers towards designated waiting zones.
ORDEAL, ANGER
Many passengers said they had received no prior intimation from the airline, leaving them confused and distressed upon arrival at the airport.
Those with connecting flights from metro hubs were the worst affected, with some claiming they would even miss international connections, court proceedings and medical treatments.
Several passengers, including those on wheelchairs, voiced their ordeal, expressing anger over what they described as “complete mismanagement” and “lack of communication.”
An elderly wheelchair-bound traveller said she had booked a flight to Bhopal for a medical appointment with a surgery scheduled.
“I reached the airport only to be told the flight has been cancelled. No message, no call. I don’t know what to do now,” she said, as family members tried to seek assistance from the staff.
Another passenger travelling with two small children, said they had been waiting for more than three hours without clarity on rescheduling.
“The kids are tired, we have elderly parents with us, but the counter is too crowded. Every time we reach the front, they tell us to wait a little more. It’s complete chaos,” she said.
A group of 22 tourists who had arrived through a tour operator appeared visibly stressed as they struggled through the crowd in hopes of securing an alternate flight.
“We were told to check online, but the website isn’t showing anything reliable. Standing in this rush is impossible for us,” one of them said.
MISCOMMUNICATION
While Indigo officials had claimed that the cancellations were communicated to them, the situation was totally different on ground with passengers claiming that they had no prior intimation and no alternative arrangements were made.
RESOLVING ISSUE
The airport management was coordinating with the airline to assist affected passengers as best as possible.
By late evening, passengers continued to remain stranded as seats on available flights were limited and demand was overwhelming. Many decided to leave the airport and return home or check into hotels, while others chose to wait in hope of a last-minute arrangement by the airline.
The cancellations have led to widespread criticism on social platforms, with several passengers tagging aviation authorities and demanding intervention to prevent a repeat of the crisis.
Passengers have even demanded that the authorities seek a detailed explanation from the airline regarding the large-scale disruption and lack of timely communication to passengers.
