30 April,2026 05:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
There has been no official response from the airline so far. Representational pic
Passengers at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 1 were left frustrated late on Wednesday night and staged a protest against SpiceJet after multiple flight delays led to cancellations. Exhausted travellers chanted "SpiceJet chor hai" through the departure area, expressing their anger over the disruptions.
In an official statement, a SpiceJet spokesperson said, "Three SpiceJet departures from Mumbai, SG 631 (Mumbai-Delhi), SG 553 (Mumbai-Gorakhpur) and SG 669 (Mumbai-Bengaluru), were cancelled on April 29 due to operational reasons, including the grounding of an aircraft and adverse weather at the previous station (Bagdogra) of the operating aircraft, which led to FDTL limitations for the crew. The airline is operating additional flights today to accommodate the affected passengers. Additionally, two Mumbai-Ahmedabad flights were delayed due to adverse weather at the previous stations - Varanasi and Bagdogra - of the operating aircraft and have since departed with a delay. We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and appreciate their understanding."
Eyewitness accounts and videos shared widely on social media captured the chaos. One affected flight, reportedly SpiceJet SG 631, along with several others heading to Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Gorakhpur, faced initial delays of three to four hours. Ground staff provided minimal updates, leaving families, business travellers and elderly passengers stranded without clear information on revised schedules or alternatives, passengers alleged. Many reported being asked to board only for the flight to be cancelled after prolonged waits, sometimes inside non-air-conditioned aircraft.
Passengers complained bitterly about the lack of basic amenities, stating that even water was not provided to them.
The absence of timely communication from airline representatives further aggravated the situation, leading to heated arguments at the counter.
The confrontation prompted security personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to intervene and calm the agitated crowd. No major untoward incident was reported, but the protest highlighted the growing frustration among domestic flyers.
Major Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet, have warned the government that the aviation sector is under extreme financial stress and may be "on the verge of stopping operations" without urgent intervention.
The concerns were raised in a letter to the civil aviation ministry by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents the three airlines.
The airlines said the ongoing turmoil in West Asia has pushed up global oil prices, while airspace restrictions have increased operating costs, particularly on long-haul routes. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of airline operating costs, has become significantly more expensive.
The FIA has urged the government to introduce a uniform fuel pricing mechanism for both domestic and international operations, similar to the earlier "crack band" system.
The federation said the widening gap between crude oil and ATF prices is making airline operations financially unsustainable, with airlines facing mounting losses, the news agency reported.
