Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Passengers travelling on a SpiceJet flight from Pune to Dubai alleged that they were left stranded at Pune airport for more than nine hours overnight after the flight was repeatedly delayed, with many claiming they received little information from the airline and were not provided adequate refreshments.
The affected flight, SG 51, was scheduled to depart from Pune at 8.50 pm on June 1. However, after multiple delays through the night, the aircraft finally took off at around 6.15 am on June 2.
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Several passengers said they were unaware of the revised departure schedule until they arrived at the airport. According to travellers, the flight was initially delayed until around 1 am and was later pushed back again to the early hours of the morning, forcing them to spend the night at the terminal.
Passengers also claimed that airline representatives offered differing explanations for the delay. While some were told that operational issues at Dubai airport had disrupted the schedule, others were informed that the incoming aircraft from Delhi had arrived late.
Travellers criticised the airline for what they described as poor communication and inadequate passenger support during the prolonged delay. Among them was Ankit Mishra, who was travelling to Dubai for urgent work. He said he only learned about the delay after reaching the airport and received no prior notification from the airline.
“My flight was originally scheduled for around 9:00 pm, then rescheduled to 1:00 am without any notification,” Mishra wrote on X. He added that the airline showed a “complete lack of communication and disregard for passengers,” which affected his urgent travel plans.
Several passengers also alleged that food, drinking water and other basic assistance were not adequately provided despite the lengthy wait. Families travelling with children and elderly passengers were among those affected.
Responding to the complaints, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the delay was initially caused by an operational issue involving the aircraft’s previous rotation. The airline maintained that passengers had been informed in advance about the revised schedule to help them plan their travel to the airport.
The spokesperson further said that an unforeseen maintenance requirement identified shortly before departure led to an additional delay. SpiceJet expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
