Pune: From pleading and shouting to outright protests just to breathe, chaos erupted on a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Pune late Tuesday as more than 100 flyers refused to fly and stopped flight SG-105 from taking off.The flight was scheduled to depart Delhi at 9.30pm but was delayed until 11.30pm. Dhankawdi resident Leshpal Javalge, who was on board, told TOI that passengers were shocked when they realised the aircraft’s air conditioning was not functioning.“Had flyers not protested, the airline probably would have flown us on the same aircraft. As we entered, we realised the AC wasn’t working. Initially, we waited because airlines sometimes switch on the system during taxiing. But there was no air, and passengers soon began perspiring and feeling suffocated,” he said.Javalge said that about 45 minutes after they boarded, the aircraft began taxiing towards the runway, still without any air conditioning. Passengers questioned the cabin crew, but were allegedly asked to remain seated. “There were pregnant women struggling to breathe. When the aircraft continued taxiing, passengers started shouting and stood up, demanding that the AC be switched on. The crew and pilot finally switched it on, but hot air started blowing from the vents, making matters worse,” he said.As the heat and suffocation intensified, passengers demanded that the aircraft return to the bay. The protests grew louder before the aircraft eventually turned back. Even after reaching the bay, passengers had to wait for the doors to open, further fuelling their anger. “We were inside in suffocating conditions for more than an hour,” Javalge said.SpiceJet, however, denied that the AC unit had failed. An airline spokesperson said the flight had encountered a last-minute technical issue and an alternate aircraft was arranged. “The air conditioning remained operational throughout. Due to prevailing weather conditions in Delhi, some passengers may have experienced discomfort,” the spokesperson said.Once passengers got onto the tarmac, several began raising slogans against the airline. Javalge said some people felt giddy and unwell, and had to be taken to the terminal building in wheelchairs. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was called in to control the situation, while engineers inspected the aircraft in the presence of some passengers.“Engineers said the air conditioning system wasn’t working. How was the aircraft cleared to fly? Didn’t anyone check all aspects of the plane before allowing it to take off?” Javalge said.Passengers were then moved to the terminal and waited for several hours as SpiceJet arranged another aircraft. The flight finally left Delhi around 5am on Wednesday and landed in Pune around 7am.The incident adds to growing complaints against SpiceJet across several sectors, including Pune, with flyers frequently reporting prolonged delays, cancellations and rescheduling. Many passengers have urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation and aviation regulators to take action against the airline.Javalge said he reached home around 8.30am on Wednesday after spending the night dealing with “a frightening and potentially dangerous” situation.
