Vadodara: Passengers aboard an IndiGo flight from Vadodara to Delhi faced a difficult and uncomfortable situation after the aircraft reportedly suffered a power failure before takeoff, leaving flyers without lights and air conditioning for nearly 30 minutes.
The incident took place on IndiGo flight 6E-657 at Vadodara Airport on Sunday night. According to reports, the aircraft was preparing for departure around 8:40 PM when the Ground Power Unit (GPU), the external system supplying electricity to the parked aircraft suddenly malfunctioned.
Cabin Plunged Into Darkness
Due to the technical failure, cabin lights and air conditioning stopped functioning completely. Around 160 passengers on board were forced to sit inside the sealed aircraft in darkness and extreme heat while engineers worked to restore power.
Videos shared on social media showed distressed passengers fanning themselves with papers and files as temperatures inside the aircraft rose. Several passengers claimed they felt suffocated because of the lack of ventilation.
What Caused the Problem?
Airport officials stated that the issue occurred because the Ground Power Unit failed while the aircraft was still parked on the tarmac. The GPU is responsible for providing electricity to the aircraft when its engines are switched off at the airport.
Engineers reportedly took around 12 to 15 minutes to repair the fault, while additional time was needed to fully restore electricity and cooling inside the cabin. Overall, passengers remained without proper ventilation for nearly half an hour.
Flight Delayed After Technical Snag
The disruption also delayed the flight’s departure. Reports suggest the aircraft eventually departed for Delhi after power supply and cooling systems were restored.
IndiGo Responds
IndiGo acknowledged the inconvenience caused to passengers and said the matter was being looked into. However, no detailed official explanation regarding the exact technical failure has yet been released by the airline.
Passenger Safety Concerns Raised
The incident has triggered discussions online regarding passenger comfort and emergency handling during technical disruptions at airports. Many users questioned why passengers were not allowed to deboard during the outage, while others criticized the lack of communication inside the aircraft.