(File photo)
NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday sharply criticised the Centre over the nationwide flight chaos triggered by IndiGo’s deepening operational crisis, calling the situation “a disaster” and accusing the BJP-led government of failing passengers as large-scale cancellations entered the seventh straight day.Speaking in Kolkata, Banerjee said the crisis had left ordinary flyers abandoned without alternatives. “What is the alternative for the public? It is most unfortunate that the maximum number of flights have stopped. This is a disaster. Thousands of passengers are stranded in airports. They are feeling mentally tortured,” she said. She urged the Centre to intervene immediately, adding, “I ask the Government of India to make a plan to resolve this. The BJP government is not interested in matters related to the country and the people. But the BJP cares only about how to capture institutions.”Her remarks came as more than 250 IndiGo services were cancelled from Delhi and Bengaluru alone on Monday, as reported by PTI. The disruptions rippled across major airports including Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Chennai. Delhi saw 134 cancellations, while Bengaluru recorded 117, marking one of the worst single-day breakdowns of airline operations in recent years.
The airline, which has struggled with massive pilot shortages and new crew duty-time regulations, is under increasing scrutiny from regulators and the judiciary. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Sunday extended by 24 hours the deadline for IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras to respond to a show-cause notice over what it said were “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management.”IndiGo has faced public anger after cancelling thousands of flights since December 2, culminating in an unprecedented 1,600 cancellations on Friday. Elbers later issued a video apology but passengers at airports nationwide continue to report long queues, confusion over rebooking, and inadequate assistance.The crisis has now reached the Delhi high court, where a Public Interest Litigation has sought urgent intervention. The petitioner described the airport situation as “inhumane,” alleging that many stranded passengers were left without support or timely refunds. The court has agreed to hear the matter in detail on Wednesday. |
