NEW DELHI: Passengers bound for Dubai arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport expecting a flight — not an overnight stay on the terminal floor. But as hours turned into a full day, scores of SpiceJet travellers were left stranded, with no clear departure time and their frustration spilling over into a sit-in protest.Dramatic visuals show exhausted passengers sitting on the airport floor, surrounded by their luggage, as the journey they had planned turned into an ordeal.For some, the wait stretched beyond 24 hours. One Dubai-bound flight was scheduled to leave on Monday morning but had still not taken off, while another flight due later in the evening also remained grounded.Travellers who had packed for Dubai — not for a prolonged stay at an airport — were forced to spend hour after hour waiting for updates, raising questions over food, accommodation and when they would finally be able to leave.As patience ran out, passengers staged a sit-in inside the terminal, demanding answers and basic support. The scenes capture the stark reality of a journey gone wrong: bags packed, tickets in hand, Dubai still miles away — and an entire day lost inside the airport.Responding to the disruption on Tuesday, a SpiceJet spokesperson apologised to the affected passengers and said the airline was working to arrange alternate flights to help them reach Dubai.“SpiceJet flights SG 5111 and SG 5105, operating from Delhi to Dubai, have been delayed due to operational reasons following the grounding of an aircraft.”The airline said it was making arrangements to accommodate those affected and reduce the inconvenience caused.“Alternate flights are being arranged to accommodate the affected passengers, and the airline is making every effort to minimise the inconvenience caused,” the airline spokesperson said in a statement.The disruption comes at a challenging time for SpiceJet, which has been facing financial and operational difficulties. Civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu told news agency PTI last week that the civil aviation ministry and aviation regulator DGCA were closely monitoring the airline’s financials and operations.(With agency inputs)
