Nine-Hour Delay Frustrates Flyers on Pune-Goa SpiceJet Flight, Ruins Christmas Plans

Pune, 26th December 2024: Over 100 passengers booked on SpiceJet’s Pune-Goa flight SG-185 were left stranded at Pune airport for nearly nine hours on Christmas Day, turning their festive travel plans into a nightmare. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 12:25 PM on Wednesday, finally took off at 9:15 PM, causing immense frustration and anger among travelers.

Aniket Pande, one of the affected passengers traveling with his wife and six-year-old child, shared his experience. “We arrived at the airport by 10:00 AM, well ahead of our scheduled flight time. Around 11:30 AM, we received a message that the flight was rescheduled to 1:20 PM. Shortly after, we were informed it would depart at 7:30 PM. This delay ruined our Christmas plans entirely,” said Pande. He added that he had prepaid for a hotel stay in Goa, which was now wasted. “The passengers were visibly upset. Some even decided to cancel their trips,” he said.

Pande also mentioned the lack of clear communication from the airline staff. “We were told in the afternoon that the delay was due to the unavailability of a replacement crew. Later, around 4:00 PM, we learned that the aircraft had a technical issue and required equipment from Delhi. It was a day of continuous setbacks,” he said.

Kanika Verma, who had flown on the same aircraft from Delhi to Pune earlier that day and was set to board the Pune-Goa leg, described turbulence during the descent into Pune. “Our flight from Delhi, which was scheduled to depart at 9:15 AM, took off only around 11:00 AM. Twenty minutes before landing in Pune, the plane experienced severe turbulence, and a cabin crew member was injured,” Verma said.

Amit Kumar, another passenger on the Delhi-Pune flight, recalled the relief passengers felt when the plane landed safely in Pune. “There was a sense of unease during the turbulence, but everyone was glad to be on the ground,” he said.

A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed the turbulence incident and its impact on subsequent flights. “The Delhi-Pune flight encountered turbulence during descent due to an air pocket. The aircraft landed safely in Pune, but a few cabin crew members sustained minor injuries. As a result, the onward Pune-Goa flight faced delays,” the spokesperson said.

Passengers on the delayed Pune-Goa flight were provided with refreshments, but for many, it did little to alleviate their frustration. “While the airline did offer snacks, it couldn’t make up for the wasted time and ruined plans,” said another passenger.