Chaos swept through Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday as IndiGo cancelled all its domestic departures from Delhi till midnight, worsening a nationwide aviation crisis. The cancellations of over 1,000 flights across India stem from what officials describe as a severe and unanticipated pilot shortage.
By afternoon, the airport terminals were overflowing. Families slept on the floor, passengers huddled around charging points, and loud arguments erupted near nearly vacant IndiGo counters. Piles of unclaimed baggage filled long stretches of the terminal, with confused travellers wandering between rows of suitcases looking for their belongings.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the government expects IndiGo’s full domestic schedule to be restored within three days. The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation continues to monitor the disruptions, which have caused IndiGo’s punctuality to collapse. IndiGo posted an apology on X, assuring passengers that full refunds will be provided for all cancelled flights. But the frustration at the airport was palpable.
One passenger, waiting since early morning, said the experience had been emotionally exhausting. “Every hour, they keep changing the information. First, it’s a short delay, then a longer one. We were supposed to reach a family function, and now we’re just stuck here with no clarity,” he said, standing near a growing crowd of stranded travellers.
Another flier, who had been waiting more than half a day, said the lack of communication made the situation worse. “I’ve been here for hours with no proper updates. No staff member is explaining anything. It’s extremely stressful.”
A third traveller described the airport scene as “complete disorder”, saying he had been at the terminal for nearly 14 hours. “People are confused; some are crying, others are arguing. There are no food coupons, no guidance. My connecting flight was cancelled without any clear reason.”
Even passengers who managed to board their flights encountered fresh delays. One traveller shared that after finally getting on the aircraft, it remained stationary for nearly an hour because a crew member had not arrived.
Meanwhile, thousands of pieces of luggage remained scattered across the terminal floors, creating further anxiety among those unable to access their belongings. Many passengers wandered between rows of bags trying to identify theirs.
As the day progressed, Delhi Airport remained congested, with display boards showing wave after wave of cancellations. With fares on other airlines surging and few alternate travel options available, many stranded passengers had no choice but to wait hungry, tired, and frustrated as one of India’s largest airlines struggled to regain control of its operations.
