Pune-bound flight held up after cabin air-conditioning fails, replacement aircraft used
Pune / New Delhi: More than 100 passengers booked on SpiceJet flight SG 105 from New Delhi to Pune faced prolonged discomfort and delay after the aircraft reportedly developed an air-conditioning problem shortly after boarding on Tuesday night, according to passengers and the airline.
Passengers said the flight, scheduled to depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport for Pune at about 9.55 pm (some reports gave 9.45 pm), was boarded at roughly 10.30 pm. Soon after the doors were closed, travellers complained that the cabin became unbearably hot and humid.
- Passengers — including children, elderly and pregnant women, they said — experienced heavy sweating and difficulty breathing inside the cabin.
- After protests by more than 100 passengers, the aircraft was returned to the bay and the flight was cancelled; an alternate aircraft was later arranged.
- The replacement flight departed early the next morning, with one report putting the new take-off around 5 am — almost seven hours after the scheduled departure.
One passenger identified as Leshpal Javalge described the sequence of events, saying boarding took place at about 10.30 pm and that the heat worsened within half an hour. Javalge said crew initially told passengers the air-conditioning would be started and the issue fixed within minutes.
“The flight was scheduled for 9.55 pm, but we boarded at around 10.30 pm. Initially, we thought the AC would take some time to start… But nearly half an hour passed and the cabin became extremely hot. The aircraft was completely full and, with the doors closed, the heat and humidity became unbearable,” Javalge said, according to news reports.
Different news accounts put the number of affected passengers between just over 100 and around 150. Several travellers refused to fly because of the conditions and demanded the aircraft be taken back to the bay at Delhi airport, which led to the cancellation and rearrangement of service.
In an official statement cited by media, SpiceJet acknowledged a last‑minute technical issue on SG 105 and said an alternate aircraft was arranged to operate the service to Pune. The airline said it “deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers.”
The incident has drawn immediate passenger criticism over the airline’s handling of the technical problem and communication at the airport. Passengers questioned why they were kept inside a hot cabin for an extended period when a technical fault with the air-conditioning was suspected.
| Event | Time / Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheduled departure | About 9.45–9.55 pm (reports vary) |
| Boarding | Around 10.30 pm |
| Cabin became hot | Within ~30 minutes of boarding, passengers report |
| Aircraft returned to bay following protest | Same night — flight subsequently cancelled |
| Replacement flight | Departed early next morning; reports say around 5 am |
From a Pune perspective, the delay meant many travellers reached the city only on Wednesday morning instead of Tuesday night. The disruption also raises consumer‑service concerns for frequent flyers and business travellers who rely on timely evening services between Pune and the national capital.
Aviation safety and operations experts routinely advise that environmental control systems — including cabin air-conditioning — are critical not only for passenger comfort but also for medical and safety reasons, especially on full flights carrying vulnerable passengers. Passengers in this instance stressed their discomfort and demanded immediate remedial action at the airport.
SpiceJet’s statement, as carried in news reports, did not provide further technical details about the air-conditioning fault or about compensation or re‑accommodation arrangements beyond the provision of an alternate aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) typically reviews serious service disruptions and technical events reported at airports; it is not yet clear from available reports whether the regulator has opened a specific inquiry into this incident.
For Pune travellers, the episode is a reminder of the operational vulnerabilities that can affect evening connectivity with Delhi and the importance of timely communication from airlines during disruptions.
