Pune: More than 200 passengers on two SpiceJet flights — one from Delhi to Pune and another from Pune to Dubai — endured hours of delays, confusion and discomfort over the weekend, with flyers alleging poor communication, inadequate facilities and a lack of timely assistance from the airline.Passengers on the Delhi-Pune flight (SG-939) said they were forced to wait for hours before boarding, only to remain seated inside the aircraft for over an hour without proper air conditioning before eventually being deboarded.Magarpatta resident Samyak Gangwal, who was travelling with his wife and child, described the ordeal as unnerving. “The flight was scheduled to depart from Delhi at 4.55pm and arrive in Pune at 7.25pm on Saturday. About half an hour before boarding, we were informed of a 30-minute delay. After that, the departure time kept getting pushed back in 30-minute intervals until 8pm,” Gangwal told TOI.Just before boarding, passengers were informed that refreshments were available at an outlet on another floor. “Many passengers couldn’t even collect them because boarding had already begun,” he said.The situation worsened after passengers boarded the aircraft. “The plane remained stationary for over an hour and the AC wasn’t working. Passengers began complaining of suffocation. Some seated at the rear claimed they could smell oil and demanded to be allowed off the aircraft, fearing for their safety. The plane was eventually moved back to the parking bay and all passengers were asked to deboard,” Gangwal said.Passengers were then taken back to the terminal and made to undergo security screening again. “We were told boarding would resume at 11pm. Some crew members acknowledged there was an issue with the aircraft’s AC. However, boarding was delayed further and we finally reboarded at around 2.10am. The flight eventually departed around 2.40am, but even then the cooling was inadequate. It was an exhausting and painful experience,” he added.Passengers on the Pune-Dubai flight (SG-51) faced a similar ordeal. Scheduled to depart at 9pm, the flight finally took off around 5.50am — nearly nine hours behind schedule.Several passengers took to social media to express their frustration. “Passengers travelling via SpiceJet to Dubai are stranded at Pune airport with no clear communication from the airline. Shouldn’t the airline compensate passengers and make necessary arrangements?” one flyer posted on X, tagging Pune MP and minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol.Another passenger, Shabbir, wrote, “Flight SG-51 is delayed by more than seven hours. Passengers are stranded at Pune airport without food, water or basic comforts. DGCA, as usual, is sleeping.”A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed about a technical issue. “On June 27, SpiceJet flight SG-939, scheduled to operate from Delhi to Pune, was delayed due to a last-minute technical issue. The aircraft departed after the necessary rectification and safety checks were completed. This delay consequently impacted the subsequent flight leg from Pune to Dubai. The safety of our passengers, crew and operations remains our highest priority. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers,” the spokesperson told TOI.
