IndiGo Plans Relief Flight as Passengers Stranded in Istanbul Amid Technical Glitch
Hundreds of passengers remain stranded in Istanbul as IndiGo faces ongoing technical issues on its Istanbul-India route. Over the past two days, two IndiGo flights—one to Delhi and another to Mumbai—were cancelled, leaving passengers without immediate alternatives. The airline has now announced plans to dispatch a relief aircraft, expected to bring the affected passengers back to India within 20 hours, as reported by NDTV.
The disruptions have caused significant inconvenience, with multiple flight delays also impacting connections for passengers flying Turkish Airlines, IndiGo’s codeshare partner. The airline operates Boeing 777 aircraft on these routes, each capable of carrying over 500 passengers. IndiGo clarified that those booked on the Istanbul-Delhi flight 6E12 have been re-accommodated on alternative flights and stated that stranded passengers were offered hotel accommodations—either within the airport or nearby—depending on their visa status.
The Indian Embassy in Istanbul is actively coordinating with IndiGo to assist stranded travelers. Embassy officials have ensured passengers receive lounge access, meals, and accommodations where possible.
Meanwhile, IndiGo’s operational challenges add to existing scrutiny. Earlier this month, the AirHelp Score Report 2024 ranked IndiGo 103rd among 109 global airlines, making it one of the lowest-ranked carriers. Comparatively, Air India was placed 61st, and AirAsia stood at 94th.
In a separate incident, an IndiGo flight bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, had to make an emergency landing at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport due to a medical emergency. The flight, originating from New Delhi, diverted when a male passenger onboard fell critically ill while in Pakistani airspace.
These incidents have highlighted the need for stronger contingency planning as airlines grapple with operational and technical challenges, impacting thousands of passengers.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
