Passengers who were on a Mumbai-Ranchi flight have recounted a distressing experience as the flight was diverted to Kolkata due to adverse weather conditions. Allegations emerged that the airline staff failed to make necessary arrangements for the passengers upon landing, despite assurances given during the flight.
IndiGo, the private carrier in question, countered the claims, asserting that all passengers aboard flight 6E-221 on January 19 were provided with meals and presented the choice of either a refund or an alternative flight.
A passenger named Vikram Srivastava took to social media to express dissatisfaction, stating that assurances of hotel stays and alternative flights were falsely made onboard and were subsequently not honored upon deboarding.
In a post on X, Srivastava mentioned that the ground staff denied the promised arrangements, offering only fare return within a week and rice packets. He questioned the feasibility of dumping passengers at a third location as per regulations.
Despite the presence of pregnant women and elderly individuals on the flight, Srivastava claimed that the IndiGo team declined assistance and instructed passengers to make their own arrangements at the unexpected location. He also shared a video capturing the interaction between IndiGo staff and disgruntled passengers.
In response to Srivastava's post on X, IndiGo expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured an investigation into the matter.
An airline official clarified that the flight's diversion to Kolkata was due to adverse weather conditions at Ranchi. Passengers were reportedly given the option to choose another flight or receive a refund, with some opting for the former and others for the latter. Additionally, the airline claimed that all passengers were provided with meals at the Kolkata airport.
