Amidst the chaos at airports due to the IndiGo crisis, heartbreaking as well as infuriating videos have popped up on the internet. One such video that went viral on the internet, a young man stuck at the airport was seen breaking down as he went, “Someone please tell my boss not to fire me.” In another instance that went viral across social media platforms, a newlywed couple missed their wedding reception arranged in Karnataka's Hubballi and had to attend the same virtually from Odisha.
Many passengers had similar frustrating experiences, missing funerals, births, and other key family events. “My mother-in-law passed away this morning. We paid ₹40,000 for two one-way tickets to Thiruvananthapuram,” a Kerala man stuck at Mumbai airport’s boarding gate following a four-hour delay reportedly told the Times of India (TOI). “The funeral was postponed so we could attend, but we’re stuck here,” he added.
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Students travelling for entrance exams, interviews, and scholarship evaluations reportedly missed opportunities after investing in substantial resources to travel. Padma Pande, grandmother of Parth, a student pursuing engineering in Guwahati, said her grandson was stuck in the north-eastern city. “His semester exams were over and he had a confirmed ticket for Lucknow for this evening. This last-minute cancellation means that one is stranded as all trains too are running full and indirect flights of other operators, taking advantage of the Indigo crisis, are charging a fortune,” she reportedly told news agency PTI.
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“I’m more worried about my patients — these are elective surgeries, but they can still have an emergency health condition which can trigger pain. Taking a train would take days,” a Rourkela-based surgeon, who got stuck at the Delhi airport, told the Indian Express.
Working professionals, including government officers, defence personnel, lawyers, and industrial supervisors, missed hearings, inspections, tenders, and official assignments — all with measurable financial loss. Hospitals reportedly recorded missed operations and severe emotional distress.
The country's premier football team Mumbai City FC’s journey to a Super Cup semi-final was also hit by the crisis. "After nearly 10 hours at the airport, endless queues, and enough chaos to test anyone’s match-day patience, the boys stuck together," the club posted on social media.
IndiGo crisis remains unresolved
India capped airfares on Saturday as hundreds of passengers gathered outside Bengaluru and Mumbai airports after IndiGo cancelled 385 flights on the fifth day of a crisis.
IndiGo has cancelled thousands of flights this week due to a shortage of pilots after it failed to plan adequately for new rules limiting pilots' work hours. The government responded on Friday, announcing special relief for the carrier and the operation of additional trains to help clear the backlog. The Delhi airport posted on X on Saturday that flight operations were steadily resuming, but cancellations remained rife elsewhere.