Passengers express frustration over flight delay at Hyderabad airport
Hyderabad: Passengers at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad, Hyderabad, are expressing frustration after a SpiceJet flight to Prayagraj was delayed by more than three hours due to a technical fault. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 10 a.m., has yet to leave, causing anxiety among passengers, especially those planning to attend the last day of holy baths in Prayagraj.
Many passengers, some of whom paid up to 48,000 rupees for their tickets, are upset over the lack of alternative arrangements from the airline and airport authorities. Tensions rose as passengers confronted SpiceJet staff, who were unable to provide clear answers. The frustration grew as the delay continued beyond the initial three-hour estimate.
Passengers who had already received their boarding passes and entered the airport were also informed of the last-minute delay. The absence of clear communication from airline staff has further fueled anger among those waiting to board.
The delays at RGIA are part of a broader issue involving frequent technical glitches that have led to ongoing disruptions at the airport. Passengers have voiced concerns over the reliability of services, as several flights have been delayed in recent months.
In a separate incident on February 18, 2025, a Blue Dart cargo plane experienced a landing gear malfunction during its final approach to RGIA. The plane, arriving from Chennai, was able to make an emergency landing without incident after the pilot requested emergency clearance from the airport authorities. No injuries were reported, but the incident raised questions about the safety measures in place at the airport.
This latest issue follows several other technical incidents at RGIA, including a mid-flight technical failure in January 2025, which led to an IndiGo flight being rerouted to Hyderabad. However, the plane landed safely, and all 144 passengers disembarked without injury.
In another case, on September 24, 2024, an Air India flight from Hyderabad to Tirupati was forced to make an emergency landing due to an engine problem shortly after takeoff. Passengers were unharmed, but many raised concerns over the lack of support from the airline upon landing.