More than 100 passengers were left struggling in a sweltering aircraft cabin after the air-conditioning system failed shortly before a SpiceJet flight was due to depart from New Delhi, India.
The flight, bound for Pune, was scheduled to leave Indira Gandhi International Airport at 9.55pm on Tuesday. However, it was delayed until around 10.30pm, with passengers already noticing that the cabin’s air-conditioning was not functioning.
At first, travellers reportedly assumed the system would eventually start working. But as the aircraft remained on the ground with its doors closed, conditions inside quickly became unbearable.
Footage recorded inside the cabin showed distressed passengers sweating heavily, shouting for assistance and using newspapers, magazines and safety cards to fan themselves.
Traveller Leshpal Javalge told local media that there was no air-conditioning or ventilation, leaving passengers drenched in sweat as the heat and humidity intensified.
He said pregnant women, children and elderly passengers were among those on board, with children beginning to cry as the situation worsened.
One pregnant passenger reportedly became breathless and appeared close to fainting. Other travellers gathered around her and attempted to cool her down while calling for immediate assistance.
Tensions escalated when some passengers demanded that the aircraft doors be opened. One person was reportedly heard shouting for the gate to be opened, while some passengers even attempted to open the main aircraft door themselves.
Eventually, passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft while the airline arranged an alternative plane.
The replacement flight eventually departed at around 5.30am, more than seven hours after the original scheduled departure time.
SpiceJet confirmed that flight SG 105, operating from Delhi to Pune on August 11, encountered a last-minute technical issue. The airline said an alternative aircraft was arranged and the service subsequently operated to Pune.
“SpiceJet deeply regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers,” a spokesperson said.
The incident comes weeks after another aircraft-related ordeal involving an Emirates flight from Dubai to Shanghai, where hundreds of passengers were reportedly left on the tarmac for hours without air-conditioning.
