The disruption began with SpiceJet flight SG 631 scheduled to operate from Mumbai to Delhi, which was delayed by nearly four hours before being cancelled after passengers had already boarded. Travellers were subsequently deboarded, intensifying frustration and disorder at the terminal.
Similar disruptions were reported on multiple other routes, including flights bound for Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and uncertain about onward travel arrangements. The situation escalated into chaotic scenes within the terminal as flight schedules continued to collapse without clarity.
According to reports published by Mint, the initial delay and cancellation sequence set off the broader operational disruption affecting multiple services. The airline attributed the cancellations to operational constraints, citing a grounded aircraft and adverse weather conditions in Bagdogra as contributing factors affecting aircraft movement.
SpiceJet further stated that crew scheduling challenges also played a critical role, explaining that several flight delays resulted in flight duty time limitations being exceeded, preventing crew members from continuing operations. This detail was reported in The Indian Express.
The airline has also issued multiple weather alerts over the past 24 hours for Kolkata, Bagdogra, Varanasi and Leh, although it has not provided formal confirmation of cancellations specifically linked to these alerts. SpiceJet has stated that efforts are underway to arrange additional flights to accommodate affected passengers and has issued an apology for the inconvenience caused.
Meanwhile, passengers expressed severe distress and frustration on social media platforms, describing prolonged delays and lack of basic services. One passenger wrote that the airline failed to provide food and water even after seven hours of delay, adding that children were left hungry. Another user accused the airline of selling tickets for unavailable aircraft and repeatedly cancelling flights at the last minute while retaining additional charges.
Another affected traveller reported that a Hyderabad to Jammu journey via Delhi was disrupted due to the cancellation of flight SG160 on the Delhi to Jammu sector, adding that customer support remained unresponsive for over 15 hours, compounding the inconvenience.
The widespread disruptions led to heightened tension at one of India’s busiest airports, with passengers demanding accountability and clearer communication from the airline amid repeated operational breakdowns.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over flight reliability, operational preparedness and passenger handling in the face of cascading delays, raising questions about service continuity during high-impact disruptions in the domestic aviation network.
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